Sourced From: Surrey Now-Leader, Tom Zillich
Surrey-raised actor Princess Davis stars in two new movies based on the hit music of American singer/songwriter Mary J. Blige.
“Real Love” will be shown on Lifetime platforms starting Saturday, June 10, followed by the next part in the romantic drama, “Strength of a Woman,” playing June 17.
The movies are executive-produced by Blige as a way to develop her songs into love stories, with her music as the backdrop.
Davis said filming was done last fall in Langley, Abbotsford and other sites in Metro Vancouver.
“We did ‘Real Love’ first,” she said, “and then we had a break and did ‘Strength of a Woman,’ which was interesting because the wardrobe was very different, I look older and have a child, so it was a switch-up and fun to do them both.”
This week Davis talked to the Now-Leader on the phone from Atlanta, ahead of the movie premieres.
“Real Love” follows 18-year-old Kendra (Ajiona Alexus), a North Carolina college student who falls for Ben (Da’Vinchi), her photo class partner.
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Actor Princess Davis grew up in the Fleetwood area and attended Surrey Christian School. (Submitted photo)
Davis plays Terry, Kendra’s roommate and loyal best friend.
“Terry is spunky and lively, and I’d describe her as the life of the party, the organizer of everything,” Davis said of her character. “The relationship with Kendra is that (Terry) is a big sister in a sense, always worried about her and I guide and help her. I love playing characters that are authentic like that and fun, so I really enjoyed it.”
Mary J. Blige’s music has long made Davis move, since she was a kid.
“I’m a longtime fan of hers, and I remember my mom playing her music all the time and I’d dance along to it,” Davis recalled. “When my mom found out I was cast in these movies it was a really big moment for her because, like, she loves Mary J. Blige so much. I know the hits, so it’s been incredible.”
Raised in the Fleetwood area, Davis attended Surrey Christian School before acting school in Vancouver, where she now lives.
Early last year she had a role in the Hallmark movie “Color, Cut, Murder,” about a beauty pageant creator found dead. A savvy hairdresser who owns a beauty shop works with a new detective in town to find the murderer. Davis plays Beth, who works at the beauty salon as the go-to mani/pedi person.
“She’s full of energy and loves all the gossip that comes into the beauty shop,” Davis said of the role. “Beth is also one of the youngest workers there so she’s full of curiosity as she’s newer to the beauty pageant scene but she easily finds her place and loves all things beauty. My character is a recurring character on the show.”
Back in 2021 Davis joined fellow Surrey-area actor Aiden Howard in “Imperfect High,” a school-set drama Lifetime. Davis plays Marcy, “who is very spunky, alpha-like, a self-acclaimed expert on all things but over all she’s a really supportive and loving friend.”
Davis’ other film credits include “Rufus 2,” “Weddings Every Weekend,” “Cats and Dogs 3: Paws Unite,” “Yellowajackets” and more.
On Showtime, “Yellowjackets” is about a team of talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the Ontario wilderness.
Princess is an alumni of both Vancouver Acting School ‘s 6 month Acting: Film, Television & Voice-Over program and their 9 month Acting Conservatory program. Prior to being accepted into these programs, Princess trained for many years at Vancouver Young Actors School.
