{{short description|American actress}} {{about|the American actress and musician|the American science educator|Elizabeth Davis (science educator)}} {{Infobox person | name = Elizabeth A. Davis | birth_name = | birth_place = Dumas, Texas, U.S. | alma_mater = Baylor University (BFA)<br>Case Western Reserve University (MFA) | years_active = 2006–present | occupation = Actor, musician | spouse = Jordan Richard (2008&ndash;present) }}

'''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.<ref>{{cite web|title=PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Once Tony Nominee Elizabeth A. Davis |url=http://playbill.com/news/article/165955-PLAYBILLCOMS-CUE-A-Once-Tony-Nominee-Elizabeth-A-Davis |publisher=Playbill |accessdate=20 May 2014 |author=Matthew Blank |date=15 May 2012 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520221114/http://playbill.com/news/article/165955-PLAYBILLCOMS-CUE-A-Once-Tony-Nominee-Elizabeth-A-Davis |archivedate=20 May 2014 }}</ref> 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.<ref>[http://wtamu.edu/academics/bit-hall-of-fame.aspx Frank and Melody Davis, Hall of Fame honorees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831231710/http://wtamu.edu/academics/bit-hall-of-fame.aspx |date=2018-08-31 }} retrieved 3/8/2015</ref><ref name=WTAMU>{{cite web|title=Branding Iron Theatre Hall of Fame|url=http://www.wtamu.edu/academics/bit-hall-of-fame.aspx|publisher=West Texas A&M University|accessdate=20 May 2014|archive-date=21 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031758/http://www.wtamu.edu/academics/bit-hall-of-fame.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Channing native gets nomination for Tony Award|url=http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2012-05-01/channing-native-scores-tony-nomination-broadway-debut|publisher=Amarillo News|accessdate=20 May 2014|author=Chip Chandler|date=1 May 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref name=WTAMU /><ref>{{cite web|title=Baylor Grad Wakes from Dreamland to a Dream Come True -- a Tony Nomination|url=http://www.baylor.edu/mediacommunications/news.php?action=story&story=114649|publisher=Baylor University|accessdate=20 May 2014|author=Terry Goodrich|date=1 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thecityresource.com/?p=331 |accessdate=May 1, 2012 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209011134/http://thecityresource.com/?p=331 |archivedate=December 9, 2013 |title=Introducing…Elizabeth A. Davis : The City Resource }}</ref>

==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''.{{Citation needed|date=May 2014}}

Davis has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway and regional theatre productions, including the Off-Broadway production of ''Wolves'' as Kay at the 59E59 Theatre.<ref>{{cite web|title='Wolves' at the door of the indecipherable|url=https://nypost.com/2010/08/09/wolves-at-the-door-of-the-indecipherable/|publisher=New York Post|accessdate=20 May 2014|author=Elisabeth Vincentelli|date=9 August 2010}}</ref> 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''<ref>{{cite web|title='The Misanthrope' in Madison|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/12/nyregion/the-misanthrope-in-madison-review.html?_r=1|work=The New York Times|accessdate=20 May 2014|author=Anita Gates|date=10 June 2011}}</ref> and has also understudied the lead female role in the New World Stages production of ''The 39 Steps''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Long-Running Comic Thriller The 39 Steps Sets Off-Broadway Closing Date|url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/154331/long-running-comic-thriller-the-39-steps-sets-off-broadway-closing-date/|publisher=Broadway.com|accessdate=20 May 2014|date=18 November 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref name=NYT1>{{cite news|title=Emily: An Amethyst Remembrance|url=https://www.nytimes.com/theater/show/23703/Emily-An-Amethyst-Remembrance/overview|work=The New York Times|date=20 March 2014 |accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oberontheatre.org/starship-astrov/ |accessdate=May 1, 2012 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202030419/http://www.oberontheatre.org/starship-astrov/ |archivedate=February 2, 2012 |title=Oberon Theatre Ensemble - Starship Astrov }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Elizabeth A. Davis {{!}} Lortel Database|url=http://www.lortel.org/lla_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&first=Elizabeth&middle=A.&last=Davis|publisher=Lortel|accessdate=20 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520221241/http://www.lortel.org/lla_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&first=Elizabeth&middle=A.&last=Davis|archive-date=20 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Bio1>{{cite web|title=Elizabeth A Davis Biography|url=http://elizabethadavis.com/#bio-video|publisher=Elizabeth A Davis Official Website|accessdate=20 May 2014|archive-date=17 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517060804/http://elizabethadavis.com/#bio-video|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Spotlight On: Elizabeth Davis|url=http://www.nyitawards.com/news/newsitem.asp?storyid=239|publisher=New York Innovative Theatre Awards|accessdate=20 May 2014|author=Christopher Borg|date=12 September 2011}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/elizabeth-a-davis/profile/|title=Elizabeth A. Davis 'Star Files'|website= Broadway.com|access-date= 27 August 2014}}</ref> ''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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Elizabeth A. Davis {{!}} Playbill Vault|url=http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/122088/Elizabeth-A-Davis|publisher=Playbill Vault|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=''Once'' Nominee Elizabeth A. Davis on Going from Small Town Texas to the Tony Awards|url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/161593/once-nominee-elizabeth-a-davis-on-going-from-small-town-texas-to-the-tony-awards/|publisher=Broadway.com|accessdate=20 May 2014|date=1 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nominee Reactions: ONCE's Elizabeth A. Davis - 'Taking a Zipcar to Chick-fil-A!'|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Nominee-Reactions-ONCEs-Elizabeth-A-Davis-Taking-a-Zipcar-to-Chick-fil-A-20120501#.U3s8dHZZTIU|publisher=Broadway World|accessdate=20 May 2014|date=1 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Listen to Paul Whitty and Elizabeth A. Davis of Once on Andrew Andrew [ARCHIVE] |url=http://www.eastvillageradio.com/content/content.php?id=3627 |publisher=East Village Radio |accessdate=20 May 2014 |date=20 April 2012 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520021715/http://www.eastvillageradio.com/content/content.php?id=3627 |archivedate=20 May 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Elizabeth A. Davis on Her Heaven-Sent Journey as Actress & Violinist in Once|url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/161419/elizabeth-a-davis-on-her-heaven-sent-journey-as-actress-violinist-in-once/|publisher=Broadway.com|accessdate=20 May 2014|author=Elizabeth A. Davis|date=24 April 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Finding Too Much of Nothing on an Irish Farm|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/01/theater/elizabeth-a-davis-stars-in-four-last-things.html|work=The New York Times|accessdate=20 May 2014|author=Alexis Soloski|date=30 April 2014}}</ref>

Beginning in May 2022, Davis starred as Thomas Jefferson in the American Repertory Theater production of 1776.

==Stage credits== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Production !Role !Location !Category |- |2012–2013 |''Once'' |Reza |Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre |Broadway |- |2022 |''1776'' |Thomas Jefferson |American Airlines Theatre |Broadway |}

==Off-Broadway== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Production !Role |- |2018 |''The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui'' |Giri |- |2018 |''My Name's Not Indian Joe'' |Liz |- |2017 |''King Lear'' |Goneril |- |2016 |''Dust Can't Kill Me'' |Angelina |- |2015 |''Zorba!'' |The Widow |- |2014 |''Allegro'' |Jennie |- |2014 |''Four Last Things'' |Jane |- |2013 |''Caucasian Chalk Circle'' |Grusha |- |2012 |''Joe'' |Playwright/Performer |- |2011 |''Once'' |Réza / Violinist |- |2010–2011 |''The 39 Steps'' |Woman (U/S – Performer) |- |2010 |''Wolves'' |Kay |- |2011 |''Dally with the Devil'' |Megan |- |2009 |''Emily'' |Emily Dickinson |- |2008 |''Of Mice and Men'' |Curley’s Wife |- |2008 |''The Cherry Orchard'' |Varya |- |— |''Grace'' |Sarah |}

==Regional Theatre== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Production !Role |- |2022 |''1776'' |Thomas Jefferson |- |2019 |''Buzz'' |Buzz |- |2019 |''Indecent'' |The Female Middle (Actor 3) |- |2016 |''Rain'' |Anna |- |2015 |''Indian Joe'' |Liz / Book, Music, Lyrics |- |— |''MacBeth Again'' |Becca |- |2011 |''Once'' |Réza |- |2014 |''The Devil’s Disciple'' |Judith |- |2011 |''The Misanthrope'' |Celimene |- |2008 |''Ride The Tiger'' |Judy |- |2009 |''Doubt'' |Sister James |- |2007 |''Opus'' |Grace |- |— |''Well'' |Lisa (U/S) |- |— |''A Streetcar Named Desire'' |Stella |}

==Film/TV== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Production !Role !Notes |- |2025 |''Daredevil: Born Again'' |Sofija Ozola |Episode: "Sic Semper Systema" |- |2021 |''Navigating Hollywood'' |Herself |Episode: "Elizabeth A. Davis: Broadway Actress & Jordan Richard: Director at NBC News" |- |2019 |''New Amsterdam'' |Shana Davis |Episode: "What the Heart Wants" |- |2019 |''The Wisdom Tooth'' |Susy | |- |2019 |Ben Platt: "Older" |Megan |Music video |- |2018 |''Trauma is a Time Machine'' |Georgia | |- |2016 |''Blur Circle'' |Heather | |- |2015; 2019 |''Law & Order: SVU'' |Alessandra Bay, Gemma Brooks |2 episodes |- |2015 |''The Jim Gaffigan Show'' |Roxie |Episode: "Super Great Daddy Day" |- |2015 |''Blue Bloods'' |Tatiana |Episode: "Bad Company" |- |2014 |''Taxi Brooklyn'' |Nadia |Episode: "Cherchez les Femmes" |- |2014 |''Fringe'' |Joanne |Episode: "Ability" |- |2011 |''All My Children'' |Single Gal | |- |2007 |''Nora Falls'' |— | |}

==Special appearances== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Program |- |2012 |''The Today Show'' |- |2012 |''The David Letterman Show'' |- |2012 |''The Tony Awards'' |- |2012 |''CBS Thanksgiving Day Parade'' |}

==Awards and nominations==

{|class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result |- | 2012 | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical | ''Once'' | {{nom}} |- | 2015 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | ''Allegro'' | {{nom}} |}

==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=33em}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|4545585}} *{{IBDB name}} * {{iobdb name|40722}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Elizabeth A.}} Category:Living people Category:American musical theatre actresses Category:Baylor University alumni Category:Case Western Reserve University alumni Category:21st-century American actresses Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American stage actresses Category:People from Dumas, Texas Category:Actresses from Texas Category:Singers from Texas Category:People from Hartley County, Texas