Check Out Davis Neves’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Davis Neves.

Davis, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m from a super small town in South West Georgia, Fort Gaines. No stoplights, no high school. I was lucky to have the opportunity to dance in Dothan, Alabama with Patti Rutland Jazz. Those experiences ignited my love of the arts, travel & performing. My Uncle Donald called me “Hollywood” for dancing down the diving board, I was never shy & loved performing.

I graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Design. After being inspired by RENT on Broadway over spring break, I fell in love with the idea of being an actor. I became involved with DramaTech theater, where I was in my first musical & won Best Actress for my first play!

I was able to intern at Sotheby’s in New York City and earn a TESOL certification from Trinity College of London in Barcelona, Spain. But I wasn’t truly happy until I followed my friend to LA where she was “dancing in commercials.” I came back to the states, bought a convertible and drove out, never looking back!

Now I’ve been in LA for over 20 years working as a professional actress, dancer, stand in, teacher, influencer, in art galleries, and I even started my own art business! I am so grateful to essentially live at the beach, get to hike to the Hollywood sign, meet people from all over the world, eat the best food and work on the most fun projects of all time!!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My Dad was a peanut farmer, we were so far from Hollywood, I knew no one here. I am the first person in my family to work exclusively as an artist. The first to work in the film industry, the first to live this far West. The first to not get married or have kids, to do it all myself!

But my family is funny, smart, talented, has great taste and appreciates the arts. I value their support, patience and understanding immensely.

It has never been easy but it has always been worth it. Everyday is so much fun and I’m constantly in awe and grateful this is my life!

While most people dread work, I can honestly say I always love my jobs. Every moment I’m on set I’m extremely grateful and happy. I never take any opportunity for granted and try to do my best in every situation.

I feel I have rightfully earned the favor of several casting directors who really trust me now, which means everything to me!

But it’s still not easy, one dream job ends and we’re immediately searching for the next. Especially the early non union days, hard side hustles, the past 5 years since 2020: COVID, vax mandates, SAG strikes and fires. But through it all there’s still nothing I’d rather do than be here!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an actress, dancer & artist. I have been a professional actress in LA since 2002. I have been a dancer all my life, dancing at my home studio, then musical theater in college and commercial dance in LA.

I love studying and practicing all the arts. I studied improv at iO west, Hothouse Spontaneous Theater, UCB, the Clubhouse and so much more. I have been on so many improv teams including Musical Theater Improv, Clown, and I even started my own Improv Dance Company!

I have taught Improv Dance workshops to everyone from actors to professional dancers. I’ve worked as a professional clown for Zen Arts, Stefan Haves & even Cirque du Soleil!

I was part of the ensemble of Workaholics (Comedy Central), the role I’m probably most known for, as well as doing bit parts on other TV (Veep), Film (The Guilt Trip), Stage, VoiceOver & commercials. I have even been able to dance on TV (American Dreams, NBC), do stunts (Cliffs of Freedom), and most recently weapons training for a new role as a cop (Nemesis, Netflix)!

I’ve been a nurse on General Hospital for 5 years now. This has been a dream for me since I watched GH with my babysitter as a child! Now I’m in scenes with those same actors! It is such an epic institution on television and I’m super grateful to have a small part.

Another great role was being a voice on Red Dead Redemption 2. I had no idea what we were creating at the time (it was under a code name) but that video game is a favorite now, even years later for so many people. I’m honored my genuine Southern accent is in there!

My highest honors were winning Best Actress at DramaTech Theater for a play in college, A Little Death. And being nominated for Best Supporting Actress at Maverick Film Festival for DeadLand, an Indie film from 2009 on Amazon (with Gary Weeks, Brian Tee & Philip Boyd) that is so good!

And I basically love all the arts. Having an art & design background, I originally thought I might be an art department girly but my love of performing took over. I still love to paint, sew, craft, build furniture & make short films. But I also love to play ukulele and sing. I love hair, makeup & wardrobe, it’s all art. I have worked in art galleries & dance studios. I love all aspects of art which is why filmmaking is the most satisfying. All the arts are combined!

I have Etsy & Redbubble stores {davisneves} of my original, abstract art work printed on everything from shoes to swimsuits!

I’m also Christian and Love Jesus! That seems to be rare in Hollywood!

What do you like and dislike about the city?
Being from the South I see so many good things about LA that don’t exist anywhere else. We have the most epic weather of all time! I have never had the need for heat or AC in my LA apartments! I love that I can workout outside any day of the year and it feels perfect.

I love our beaches, which growing up used to be a luxury vacation once a year. Now I can drive 10 miles and jump in the ocean! I find the ocean so healing, so much fun and invigorating. I am that adult playing mermaids, splashing in the waves laughing like a little kid the whole time, then running down the beach to the Santa Monica rings for a workout!

I love biking by the ocean and rollerskating at Venice Beach, life here feels like Heaven so often I can’t believe it’s real! I get to walk out on my balcony and see the Hollywood sign first thing in the morning! Such a gift! I love hiking to waterfalls, exploring nature, feeling all alone in such a big city.

I love singing full blast in my car, wearing crazy fun outfits for any occasion, jumping out of my car to take a selfie against a mural or doing a TikTok dance in public, bursting out into a dance party on the sidewalk after an event, harmonizing with the most talented strangers when someone starts up singing, all with no judgement! Actually it’s celebrated!

Also the mix of people from different cultures all around the world is so cool! Our food is also the best for this reason. LA is such a melting pot where the most creative, talented people come to be part of our world stage!

And the best, everyone here is an ARTIST! Everyone on earth is an artist but here we really lean into it and celebrate it! My People!

Art is like sunshine & exercise, it’s free & makes us feel so good! Never stop dancing, painting, singing!

The only thing I wish LA (& everywhere) had is a little more is Southern Hospitality! People here tend to be very competitive here which can be a good thing, but we’re missing out on opportunities to lift each other up in collaboration. I had to learn this city is more about work than friendship… It’s show business not show friends!

I try to be a great friend anyway to break this cycle! And I get it, we all have to hustle to pay the high bills in LA, we don’t often have time or resources to help each other like we do in smaller towns. Not everyone here is nice & kind, so sometimes you have to walk away, and that’s ok!

But hopefully a new generation of Hollywood is taking over. A kinder, gentler, post-Me Too, where women and children feel empowered to speak up for ourselves, to be heard and respected!

Hollywood just keeps getting better! We are often hated but everyone watches tv, movies, plays video games, loves dance, art & music. So the entertainment industry will always thrive, and be the most fun!!

Pricing:

• davisneves.etsy.com
• davisneves.redbubble.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.davisneves.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/davis7neves
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/davisneves
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/davisneves
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/davisneves
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@davisneves