Elizabeth Anne Davis known professionally as Elizabeth A. Davis, is an American actress and musician known for her work in the musical Once, for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical in 2012. She was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in the musical Allegro in 2015.
Early life Elizabeth Anne Davis was born in Dumas, Texas, and raised in Channing, Texas, the daughter of Melody (née Brown) and Frank Davis. She also has a brother named Jonathan. Her father is the former superintendent of the Channing Independent School District, and both of her parents are involved in the arts. Her mother is a former speech coach and teacher who earned her master's degree in Speech Communication from West Texas A&M University in 1982.Frank and Melody Davis, Hall of Fame honorees retrieved 3/8/2015 She graduated from Channing High School, received her Bachelor in Fine Arts degree from Baylor University and her Master of Fine Arts from Case Western Reserve University-Cleveland Play House acting program in Cleveland, Ohio. While at Baylor, Davis met her husband, Jordan Richard, a television director. Davis plays the violin.
Career Davis first started out her professional career as a college student playing the lead role in the Texas Musical Drama in the Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
Davis is seen as the Romanian "Nadia" on the New York-shot Taxi: Brooklyn. She was also seen in FOX's Fringe in the "Ability" episode and on One Life to Live.
Davis has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway and regional theatre productions, including the Off-Broadway production of Wolves as Kay at the 59E59 Theatre. She played the role of Sister James in Doubt at the Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples, Florida and starred as Blanche Dubois in a production of A Streetcar Named Desire at the Cleveland Playhouse. She played the role of Célimène in a New Jersey Shakespeare Festival production of The Misanthrope and has also understudied the lead female role in the New World Stages production of The 39 Steps. She starred in The Starship Astov at the Midtown International Theatre Festival, for which she was nominated for a MITF Best Actress award. Davis also starred as Emily Dickinson in Emily at Theatre Row for which she won the New York Innovative Theater Award for Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role.
Davis is best known for originating the role of Réza, the Czech roommate of leading lady Cristin Milioti in Once, a stage musical version of the Academy Award-winning film Once. Davis originated the role of Réza at the American Repertory Theatre at Harvard University and Off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop. Her final performance as Réza in Once was on March 24, 2013. Once opened on Broadway on March 18, 2012 and received 11 Tony nominations, including Best Musical. For this role she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. In May 2013, she joined Christopher Lloyd and composer, Duncan Sheik in Classic Stage Company's rare production of Bertolt Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle.
In April through May 2014, Davis starred in Four Last Things at the American Globe Theater.
Beginning in May 2022, Davis starred as Thomas Jefferson in the American Repertory Theater production of 1776.
Stage credits YearProductionRoleLocationCategory2012–2013OnceRezaBernard B. Jacobs TheatreBroadway20221776Thomas JeffersonAmerican Airlines TheatreBroadway
Off-Broadway YearProductionRole2018The Resistible Rise of Arturo UiGiri2018My Name's Not Indian JoeLiz2017King LearGoneril2016Dust Can't Kill MeAngelina2015Zorba!The Widow2014AllegroJennie2014Four Last ThingsJane2013Caucasian Chalk CircleGrusha2012JoePlaywright/Performer2011OnceRéza / Violinist2010–2011The 39 StepsWoman (U/S – Performer)2010WolvesKay2011Dally with the DevilMegan2009EmilyEmily Dickinson2008Of Mice and MenCurley’s Wife2008The Cherry OrchardVarya—GraceSarah
Regional Theatre YearProductionRole20221776Thomas Jefferson2019BuzzBuzz2019IndecentThe Female Middle (Actor 3)2016RainAnna2015Indian JoeLiz / Book, Music, Lyrics—MacBeth AgainBecca2011OnceRéza2014The Devil’s DiscipleJudith2011The MisanthropeCelimene2008Ride The TigerJudy2009DoubtSister James2007OpusGrace—WellLisa (U/S)—A Streetcar Named DesireStella
Film/TV YearProductionRoleNotes2025Daredevil: Born AgainSofija OzolaEpisode: "Sic Semper Systema"2021Navigating HollywoodHerselfEpisode: "Elizabeth A. Davis: Broadway Actress & Jordan Richard: Director at NBC News"2019New AmsterdamShana DavisEpisode: "What the Heart Wants"2019The Wisdom ToothSusy2019Ben Platt: "Older"MeganMusic video2018Trauma is a Time MachineGeorgia2016Blur CircleHeather2015; 2019Law & Order: SVUAlessandra Bay, Gemma Brooks2 episodes2015The Jim Gaffigan ShowRoxieEpisode: "Super Great Daddy Day"2015Blue BloodsTatianaEpisode: "Bad Company"2014Taxi BrooklynNadiaEpisode: "Cherchez les Femmes"2014FringeJoanneEpisode: "Ability"2011All My ChildrenSingle Gal2007Nora Falls—
Special appearances YearProgram2012The Today Show2012The David Letterman Show2012The Tony Awards2012CBS Thanksgiving Day Parade
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result 2012 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Once 2015 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Allegro
References
External links