Rising Stars: Meet Monica Davis of Los Angeles (The Valley)

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

Hi Monica, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I like to think my story is a bit of an inspirational one I started in Detroit, Michigan at the tinder age of five years old. That’s when I got my first taste of theater life as I landed the role of Mary in the church play: The birth of Jesus. It awoken this dream and desire inside of me to continue being on stage. As far back as I can remember, I have always had a love for the arts and growing up in Detroit; there was so much inspiration from music to theater and expressing yourself through dance. My first love started with modeling, I always dreamed I’d be scouted out at the mall one day or something but I worked hard joined modeling agencies in Detroit and did hair shows, fashion shows, print modeling anything that felt glamorous I went for it and I feel I had built a pretty solid portfolio within Detroit and then one day I auditioned for a Slum Village and Kanye West video “Selfish” and I was featured so I really was lucky! I attended a performing arts high school named CherryHill School of Performing Arts where I studied dance and met most of my best friends to this day who are all super talented in their own ways.

After starting my acting journey in Detroit I soon set my sights for Hollywood to join the big leagues! You always hear horror stories about Hollywood but I’ve been so blessed to have met the right people and the grace to have worked alongside of some of Hollywood’s biggest names.

I’m humbled enough to know that even the best of artists can learn and grow from others and our experiences so whenever I had the pleasure of being on set I would pay attention to everything and try to understand how it all works.
I found a great community of actors though the LA theater scene as well as my acting classes, and through those connections we networked and began to produce projects of our own thus leading me to becoming part of the prestigious SAG-AFTRA union.

I’ve been on my journey for well over a decade in LA and I am still as eager and blessed as the day I drove 3,000 miles across country with a packed car and a heart full of dreams! I’ve had so many goals I’ve achieved and still striving for more so it continues to make life interesting!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been smooth at all one of my biggest challenges was being so far away from my family. My whole family is in Michigan so it was and sometimes still is a huge struggle to miss family gatherings, events, holidays and birthdays. It just makes the moments we do have and share together that much more special. Also, I think teleportation needs to be invented expeditiously!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an actress and I like to think I specialize in telling truths and making people believe. One of my earliest memories and favorite movies was The Wizard of Oz, I loved that movie so much because I believed it was a real place, I believed everything and it took me on a magical adventure of fantasies and characters. So I knew that that’s what I wanted to do….make people believe.
I am most proud of myself for accomplishing a dream/goal I’ve had on my vision board a long time and that goal was to have a lead role on a hit tv show and that dream has been realized when I was cast as Antoinette on Carl Weber’s The Family Business New Orleans, as Marquis Duncan (Brandon T. Jackson) scandalous love interest.

I have a feeling my passion and commitment to the work and thrill for the story sets me apart from others because LA is filled with people with dreams but I always and I mean always keep a positive outlook on things and never let negativity overshadow my blessings.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Okay, I have to say Carl Weber’s The Family Business series is one of my favorites because it is and I’m obsessed with the Facebook fan groups because honey the conspiracy theories be flowing and I be right there with them! I also enjoy reading James Patterson books and my favorite acting reference book is Ivana Chubback’s The Power of the Actor, I always refer back to it whenever I am breaking down a character. ***And a special shout out to Tik Tok because I learn so much from that app and you can really find your tribe there. I am also a foodie so I love watching AMSR content.

Pricing:

• For bookings: reach out to manager via IMDB

Contact Info:

• Website: https://imdb.me/MonicaLDavis
• Instagram: @_monicadavis
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@themonicachannel007?si=a9c8u-DbswuCpIRk

Image Credits
Ambrose J
Ken stipe
Matt jong
Todd – LAphotospot