Lights, camera, action. Being in the spotlight is nothing new for Edmond Memorial High School junior Lily Davenport. From film work to musical theatre, Davenport has been involved in the fine arts ever since she was 7. Davenport has performed in multiple theatre productions at EMHS, including “Children of Eden,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Peter and the Starcatcher” and Follies, a showcase of band, choir and theatre students’ talents.
Davenport’s acting career was inspired by her father, who is also an actor. Seeing her father’s love of acting inspired Davenport to chase an acting career for herself, following in her father’s footsteps.
“My dad is actually an actor, so I grew up watching him travel for different roles and dedicate himself to his craft,” Davenport said. “Seeing his passion for storytelling inspired me from a young age, and it made me want to pursue acting for myself.”
For Davenport, acting is more than just a fun hobby. Acting has allowed Davenport to connect with her audience through the characters she brings to life, which has become an important part of her life.
“Acting is important to me because it allows people to connect through vulnerability and emotion,” Davenport said. “At a certain point, it stops feeling like acting and becomes something deeply personal, drawing from real experiences and emotions to bring a character to life in a way that feels honest and authentic to the crowd.”
Davenport’s talents do not go unnoticed by her fellow actors and peers. Lilly Dinger, a sophomore who recently acted alongside Davenport in “Mamma Mia!,” shares the depth and emotion that she sees within Davenport’s acting.
“She portrays such vulnerability in her acting and has an amazing voice,” Dinger said. “She has the most wonderful mixed belt I have ever heard.”
Jayden Jackson, a junior at Edmond North High School, has acted alongside Davenport in the show “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at the performing arts studio Stage 405. With his experience with Davenport, Jackson has noticed Davenport’s perseverance.
“I would definitely describe her as a relentless actress with lots of pride and determination,” Jackson said. “She had to face a lot of hurdles, but that has not stopped her from trying over and over again.”
This year, Davenport was able to sign with Reel Talent Agency, a premier talent agency located in Oklahoma, making this an important step in her acting career. Davenport will continue her acting career both inside and outside of school, navigating through the art of performance as she expands on her theatre skills.
Contact Erin Hamm at [email protected].
