Jordan Alexa Davis: Finding Strength in the Quiet Moments
Some acting careers begin with a grand plan. Others begin with a school play and a child discovering the thrill of stepping onto a stage. For Jordan Alexa Davis, that first spark came at just six years old, playing a poppy in The Wizard of Oz. Since then, she has quietly built an impressive career that spans beloved animated series, acclaimed dramas, and now one of the year’s most anticipated films.
In David Robert Mitchell’s mysterious new thriller The End of Oak Street, Davis joins an extraordinary cast led by Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor in a story where the familiar slowly gives way to the unimaginable. While much of the film remains tightly under wraps, her performance promises another step forward for an actress who has consistently chosen projects that value nuance over spectacle. For BELLO, Jordan reflects on finding strength in quiet characters, learning from remarkable collaborators, embracing flawed roles, and why authenticity, both on screen and in life, continues to guide everything she does.
Jordan Alexa Davis @jordanalexadavis
Photography Matt Doheny @dohenyphoto
Creative Direction Aleksandar Tomovic @AlekAndSteph
Styling Megan Zina @meganzina
Makeup Suzie K @SuzieKbeauty
Special Thanks @Platformprteam
The End of Oak Street pulls a quiet suburban world into something unrecognizable. What did it feel like to build a character inside a story that keeps shifting the ground beneath her? It was very interesting for me to play a character who, when she is introduced, has already gone through so much struggle off-screen. I had to imagine parts of her story for myself in order to make her world feel larger and deeper.
David Robert Mitchell is known for creating a very particular atmosphere—one where dread and wonder seem to exist at the same time. How did he guide you toward that feeling on set? David has a gift for creating that tone. Sometimes, as an actor, you can’t always tell what the tone will be like in the finished product, and sometimes the atmosphere while filming is very different from what you ultimately see on screen. He was so great at setting the pace while still giving us room to play.
Your role is still largely under wraps. Without giving too much away, what can you tell us about the emotional core of Jeanette? Jeanette may be quiet, but she’s very strong. She has this unsuspecting bravery within her that audiences may not expect because she’s so soft-spoken and reserved.
You began your career in voice acting with characters like Poppy in Vampirina and Crystal in Sofia the First before moving into live-action drama. How has that experience shaped the way you approach performances today? Voice work teaches you how to use your imagination because you have to place yourself into an entire world while you’re in the recording booth. It really helped me when stepping into a sci-fi thriller like The End of Oak Street because I was reacting to things that weren’t actually there and would later be added through visual effects.
Defending Jacob paired you with actors like Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery, and you even contributed a song to the soundtrack. What did that experience teach you about the power of restraint in performance? I’ve been so lucky to have such incredible scene partners and to learn so much from them. When you’re working with actors as talented as Chris and Michelle, they give you the courage to exist in those uncomfortable spaces within a scene.
Has there been a role that changed the way you think about acting—not just as performance, but as a way of understanding people? There are so many things to learn from living inside another person’s mind, but even the process of filming for months with an entire crew teaches you so much about others and about yourself. The collaborative nature of filmmaking is one of my favorite parts of it.
What draws you to a script today that might not have interested you a few years ago? I think when I was younger, I would have been more afraid to take on a character who was unlikeable or deeply flawed. As you grow as an actor, you realize those are often the most exciting people to play because they’re the ones who feel the most human.
Your personal style always feels effortless yet intentional. What influences the way you dress, whether it’s for a premiere or just everyday life? I’m big on comfort, but I also love a great look. I think less is more with everything. You just have to find the balance between chic and not boring. Though, if you’re being yourself, you can never be boring.
Looking ahead, what’s the kind of story you’re still hoping to tell—the role you dream someone will finally ask you to play? I’d love to play more deeply developed characters or take on a leading role in a story that I truly love. It’s still more rare for a person of color to be given a leading role, let alone a supporting role that isn’t built around stereotypes. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had so far, and I’m excited to continue showing people how much more I can do.
