Tennesia Malcolm, Gleaner Writer

Glen Campbell and Camille Davis in a scene from Patrick Brown's 'Love Games'. -Contributed Photo

It's as if she's been hiding in plain sight. She has given life to so many familiar characters in Jamaican theatre over the last three years, but for many, the name Camille Davis is as unfamiliar as the district of Ketto in Westmoreland from which she hails.

Fresh out of Manning's School, this self-proclaimed shy girl came to the big city with hopes of higher education and an ever so nagging dream of being in the spotlight.

But Camille was not your typical actress in waiting. She had no formal training and no résumé with a long list of school or community productions in which she had performed to rave reviews. In fact, Camille's success story is the stuff of which fairy-tales are made.

When Davis walked into an audition at Centerstage in 2004, her single recommendation was her belief in a dream, and perhaps dogged determination.

"I am so blessed because even though I wanted to do this, I never thought in my wildest dreams I would be able to. I've been led in this direction and no one put me there but God." And that was enough to gain her an opportunity at stage acting and her first lead role as Dimples in Patrick Brown's VIBES. Less than one year later in 2005, an Actor Boy nomination for Actress in a Lead Role.

"I didn't win, but it's ok. The mere fact that I was acknowledged for what I am doing, I was grateful for that," the 22-year-old explained.

Now, after only three years in acting, Davis has played lead or significant roles in at least seven plays, with commercials and radio dramas also under her belt. Not bad for a little girl from a little-known district. But how did Camille move from being a first-class dreamer to being on first name basis with comedy heavyweights Oliver and Glen? She attributes her success to her faith in God and a grandmother who instilled such faith in her.

"My grandmother raised me. I grew up in church. My grandmother was a preacher. I used to pretty much tag along. I was church, school and home. My grandmother didn't allow me to go anywhere. But that was enough for me."

That was until she came to Kingston and got bitten by the acting bug. Camille recalls when she just started in theatre, juggling acting and school. However, the pull of acting won her over and she soon quit school. She expresses no regrets about that and declares she would have it no other way. And as for a 'regular' job, she harbours no ambitions in that department.

Relative success

Davis

"It wouldn't be my passion. A lot of people do jobs they really don't like."

Yet, even after what may be considered relative success in a business that can prove hard to break into, she maintains her humility. "I don't take anything for granted. I appreciate every single thing I've done every time and I really embrace life and everything it has to offer," she related with candour.

And she continues: "For some people, it's not a big deal, but for me it's major. I mean, coming from a small district that most people don't even know. I grew up watching Oliver, so for me to work with him is an honour." An honour which comes with its perks, one being the opportunity to travel to places she had no idea she would visit just three years ago, with the Jamaican culture in tow. Though her hectic schedule prevents her from officially vacationing, she manages to merge both.

"Work and vacation go together; it's the new thing. Sometimes we have a weekend show and we get there from Thursday or so, so she get to see those places. Even places like New York that other persons would think (are run of the mill), I think it's beautiful."

The young actress expresses a love for meeting people and perhaps that is what motivates her vision of opening a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts.

She speaks passionately about how society quickly writes off such individuals without even a flicker of regret, and the dehumanising effect this has on so many.

Stability

"I don't judge people because I don't know what put them there. A lot of [people when you see them on the street, you don't know who they were. I want to put some stability back in their lives, see the look on their children's faces, their mothers, uncles ..."

But it is not all business for this TV addict who proudly declares that her favourite show is Golden Girls, and admits she's watched every episode and laughs at the reruns as if she's seeing them for the first time.

But the buck doesn't stop there for this doyenne of Jambiz Productions. Like her favourite girls - Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, Camille hopes to one day walk the red carpet in Hollywood. She dreams of being the first Jamaican to make a huge mark in film. "What I really, really want to do is film.

"As long as I keep working hard, and try not to be complacent, there's always another step to go."