{{Short description|American actress, dancer and singer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox person |name = Alexis Floyd |image = File:AF Wiki Profile 1.jpg |alt=Alexis Floyd on the red carpet of the Out100 Celebration, 2025, wearing a sequined dress with a white shall against a dark blue backdrop |caption= Floyd on the red carpet of the Out100 Celebration, 2025 |birth_date = |birth_place = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |alma_mater = Carnegie Mellon University (BFA) |occupation = Actress |years_active = 2017–present }} '''Alexis Floyd''' is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Neff in the Netflix series ''Inventing Anna'' (2022) and Dr. Simone Griffith on ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2022–present).
==Early years and education== Alexis Floyd was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, in a musical family. Her mother, a classically trained flautist, is manager of Cleveland Youth Orchestra and her father was a classically trained tenor<ref name= br>{{Cite web |title=Aric Floyd Full Biography {{!}} Broadway World |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Aric-Floyd/ |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=broadwayworld.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name = a>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-11 |title=Meet Alexis Floyd, Who Plays the Scene-Stealing Neff in 'Inventing Anna' |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/meet-alexis-floyd-who-plays-the-scene-stealing-neff-in-inventing-anna |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=Glamour |language=en-US}}</ref> before becoming a lawyer.<ref name =b>{{Cite web |last1=Benson |first1=John |last2=Clevel |first2=Special to |last3=.com |date=2022-02-22 |title=Multitalented Cleveland actress Alexis Floyd starring in Netflix series 'Inventing Anna' |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/02/multitalented-cleveland-actress-alexis-floyd-starring-in-netflix-series-inventing-anna.html |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=cleveland |language=en}}</ref> She took up violin at age three.<ref name = a/> She was a competitive figure skater, did violin recitals at the Youth Orchestra, studied at the Cleveland School of Ballet and did musical theater at several venues, including Cleveland Playhouse and Cleveland Public Theater. Her education was entirely in private schools.<ref name= S/> For high school she attended Hawken School, and went on to Carnegie Mellon to study musical theater.<ref name = b/> In 2012, she studied at The Rhodopi International Theater Collective in Bulgaria, where she studied Suzuki method, mime, and aerial art.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alex Floyd education and training |url=https://www.backstage.com/u/alexisfloyd/ |website=Backstage.com}}</ref> After college graduation she moved to Los Angeles and then to New York City where she now lives. At the time of her audition for the role of Neff, Floyd was working as a concierge at a New York high-end yoga studio.<ref name = S>{{Cite web |last=Valentini |first=Valentina |date=2022-02-07 |title=The Women of 'Inventing Anna': Introducing Alexis Floyd |url=https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/a38976028/the-women-of-inventing-anna-introducing-alexis-floyd/ |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=Shondaland |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Career== Her career prior to her role as Neff was primarily off-Broadway<ref>{{Cite web |title=Theatre / Live Performance |url=https://www.alexisgfloyd.com/performances |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Alexis Floyd |language=en-US |archive-date=July 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706222744/https://www.alexisgfloyd.com/performances |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a recurring role as Tia Clayton in Freeform's ''The Bold Type''.<ref name = b/> Her other activities included choreography and dancing on short films and music videos.<ref name = S/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dance |url=https://www.alexisgfloyd.com/dance |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=Alexis Floyd |language=en-US |archive-date=October 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023233112/https://www.alexisgfloyd.com/dance |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Her career took a leap forward when she landed the role of Neff in ''Inventing Anna''. The series is the true life story of Anna Sorokin, a Russian born woman who claimed to be Anna Delvey, a German heiress who faked her way into New York high society.<ref name="Barefield">{{Cite news |last=Barefield |first=Ilana |title=Alexis Floyd steals the show |work=Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/03/30/arts/inventing-anna-actress-alexis-floyd-doesnt-steal-money-steals-show/}}</ref> She did much preparation before auditioning. "A bit of a social media recluse,"<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Alexis Floyd Prepared to Play Neff in 'Inventing Anna' |url=https://netflixqueue.com/alexis-floyd-inventing-anna |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=Netflix Queue |archive-date=June 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601190014/https://netflixqueue.com/alexis-floyd-inventing-anna |url-status=dead }}</ref> Floyd was unaware of the Sorokin/Delvey story; to learn about it she read as much as she could. Floyd learned the Prince George's County accent of Neff, with some New York thrown in. When Floyd got the role she met the "real Neff," Neffatari (Neff) Davis.<ref name = V/> They met several times, so that Floyd would have some understanding of the dynamics of the friendship between Neff and Anna.<ref name = a/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-13 |title=Meet Neff Davis, Anna Delvey's Only Friend In New York |url=https://www.papermag.com/neff-davis-2577568832.html?rebelltitem=1 |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=PAPER |language=en}}</ref> Floyd's role was as a concierge at a boutique hotel Delvey was staying in. The concierge became crucial to Anna, and her only friend. Neff was the key to getting Anna V–VIP access to exclusive parties, shopping services and restaurants. Floyd's portrayal of Neff has been critically well received. Her performance has been described as a "scene stealer and truly magnetic."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balia |first=Nadini |title=Review, Inventing Anna |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/inventing-anna-tv-review-2022}}</ref> Floyd felt she could easily relate to Neff Davis; they live down the street from each other in Brooklyn,<ref name = V>{{Cite web |last=Friedlander |first=Whitney |date=2022-02-25 |title=Two Neffs, No Regrets |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/inventing-anna-neff-character-true-story.html |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Prepare to Completely Obsess Over Alexis Floyd from 'Inventing Anna' |url=https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/inventing-anna-alexis-floyd-meet-cute |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=Netflix Tudum |language=en}}</ref> and:{{blockquote|We both worked front-desk jobs. We're both struggling to keep the balls in the air of tending the flame of your art but also keeping food on the table. There were a lot of stars aligning between the two of us.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pham |first=Jason |date=2022-02-17 |title='Inventing Anna' Star Alexis Floyd Tests Herself on 'Scandal,' 'Bridgerton' & More Shondaland Shows |url=https://stylecaster.com/alexis-floyd-inventing-anna/ |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=StyleCaster |language=en-US}}</ref>}} On July 19, 2022, it was announced that Floyd will be a series regular during the 19th season of the ABC series, ''Grey's Anatomy''.<ref name="Andreeva">{{Cite web |last=Nellie Andreeva |date=2022-07-19 |title='Grey's Anatomy' Adds 'Inventing Anna's Alexis Floyd As New Series Regular For Season 19 |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/greys-anatomy-alexis-floyd-new-series-regular-season-19-simone-griffin-surgical-resident-1235072725/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=Deadline}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grey's Anatomy's New Residents Reveal How They're Bringing Back Season 1 Nostalgia |url=https://people.com/tv/greys-anatomy-new-residents-actors-nostalgia/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-12 |title=Alexis Floyd on Last Night's Intense and Moving 'Grey's Anatomy' Episode |url=https://www.shondaland.com/shondaland-series/a60454970/alexis-floyd-on-last-nights-intense-and-moving-greys-anatomy-episode/ |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Shondaland |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Personal== Floyd has a younger brother, Aric Floyd, who is also an actor.<ref name = br/>
Floyd publicly came out as queer in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shatto |first=Rachel |date=2025-01-31 |title='Grey's Anatomy' star Alexis Floyd publicly comes out |url=https://www.pride.com/coming-out/alexis-floyd-comes-out |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Pride |language=en}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Film=== *''Newly Single'' (2017), Theater Performer<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vaguevisages.com/2022/02/17/inventing-anna-cast-netflix/ |title=Know the Cast: 'Inventing Anna' |last=Hough |first=Q.V. |date=February 17, 2022 |website=vaguevisages.com |access-date=August 31, 2024}}</ref>
===Television=== *''The Bold Type'' (2019), Tia Clayton – 8 episodes<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/the-bold-type-adds-peter-vack-alexis-floyd-as-recurrers-for-season-3-1202458986/ |title='The Bold Type' Adds Peter Vack, Alexis Floyd As Recurrers For Season 3 |last=Haring |first=Bruce |date=September 7, 2018 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=August 31, 2024}}</ref> *''Dickinson'' (2021), Proposal Friend #5 – Episode: "The Daisy Follows Soft the Sun"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/inventing-anna/ |title='Inventing Anna' - Where You've Seen the Cast Before |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=March 25, 2022 |website=collider.com |access-date=August 31, 2024}}</ref> *''Way Down'' (2022), Sherrie – 2 episodes<ref name="Diva">{{cite web |url=https://diva-magazine.com/2024/06/13/where-is-the-cast-of-the-bold-type-now/ |title=The Bold Type: Where are the cast now? |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=June 13, 2024 |website=diva-magazine.com |access-date=August 31, 2024}}</ref> *''Inventing Anna'' (2022), Neff – 9 episodes<ref name="Barefield"/> *''Grey's Anatomy'' (2022–present), Dr. Simone Griffith – Series regular<ref name="Andreeva"/> *''The Good Fight'' (2023), Deandra Minton – Episode: "The End of the Yips"<ref name="Diva"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Floyd, Alexis}} Category:Actresses from Cleveland Category:American television actresses Category:Living people Category:African-American women choreographers Category:African-American choreographers Category:American choreographers Category:Hawken School alumni Category:Carnegie Mellon University alumni Category:American musical theatre actresses Category:21st-century African-American actresses Category:21st-century American actresses Category:21st-century American ballet dancers Category:American women choreographers Category:Dancers from Cleveland Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American queer actresses Category:African-American LGBTQ people Category:American expatriates in Bulgaria Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:African-American ballerinas Category:American ballerinas Category:American female figure skaters