Amber Davies

Why did you decide to apply to study at Urdang?

I knew from a very young age that I wanted to do musical theatre. Growing up in North Wales, both my sister, Jade, and I took ballet classes from the age of three, and I picked up a lot of my early singing technique competing in the Welsh singing festival Eisteddfod.

I fell in love with it, and my love grew once I was introduced to West End musicals, Disney films and music videos. The first West End musical I saw was The Lion King at 7 years old, and from that moment, I knew I didn’t want to do anything else.

When I saw my older sister Jade attend Urdang, I knew it was where I belonged. I enrolled in the Urdang Youth Academy at 13, and by 16, I was ready to begin my diploma. I had the most wonderful 3 years training at Urdang.

What was your favourite thing about studying at Urdang?

My favourite thing about studying at Urdang was the incredible environment it provided.

The training was intense, but the teachers were so supportive, and I made the best of friends who I’m still friends with to this day.

My confidence and motivation grew immensely throughout my training, and I’ll always cherish my memories, especially playing Cambell in Bring it on: The Musical for my third-year showcase, a role I then went on to originate professionally in London.

What is your advice to students and graduates who are hoping for a career in the performing arts?

I promise the most important quality you can have in this industry is kindness and respect. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but this industry is smaller than you think, people talk A LOT.

Make sure you are always putting your best foot forward, for example learn everyone’s names within your company and building. Yes, you need to be talented but trust me when I say how you treat others is what will book you your next job after that.

Having experienced health issues, I know the importance of listening to your body and allowing it to rest. I had laryngitis when I was playing Vivian Ward, and the sing for Vivian is huge. This was a difficult time for me, I felt like I was letting people down by not performing, but with every challenge comes a lesson, and I want to scream from the rooftops that you have to take care of yourself first.

Dream big, work hard, and anything can happen!

What has your journey been like in the performing arts industry?

Since 2019, I have starred in some of the biggest musicals in the West End and touring the UK. I got my big break as Judy Bernly in 9 to 5: The Musical at the Savoy Theatre in London, produced by none other than Dolly Parton. That show was quickly followed by leading roles in Bring It On: The Musical, Back to the Future: The Musical and Pretty Woman.

I seem to have a pattern in the shows I do, which is movie musicals. I couldn’t pick a favourite job, however. Each role, as cringe as it sounds, has taught me so much about myself and the way I work. Touring was a little more difficult than “town only” because Vivian Ward [lead role in Pretty Woman] was such a big sing, and we, of course, kept changing theatres every few weeks. I had to adapt vocally in every venue, and I had to rely a lot on my technique. But taking such an iconic musical around the UK and Ireland was extremely rewarding.

What challenges did you face early on?

Sharing a professional dream with your sister can be both motivating and, at times, stressful. My older sister booked a job before graduating. She booked Les Misérables, and I always remember feeling this pressure throughout my training that I must do the same, otherwise I’d have somewhat “failed”.

Lo and behold, I didn’t book a job straight out of college, and I soon began to realise that what underlying she had achieved was extremely rare.

I made a choice that, even at the time, felt like a real gamble for me; I took part in the 2017 season of reality TV show Love Island. I had sleepless nights thinking, “Am I going to ruin a career I’ve dreamed about my entire life before it’s even begun?”

I get questions like “Did you go on Love Island so you could go straight to playing leading roles?” And the answer is no, honestly, like I said, I graduated, and I hadn’t booked a job, I was 19 and I looked so unbelievably young, so when the Love Island opportunity came up I thought “You only live once”. I was a huge fan of the show. I had no idea I’d go on to win it!

What has your journey in the industry been like and what have you learnt so far from your career?

I knew I had to discover my own path in this industry, and now, looking back, I can’t believe how fortunate I have been. I’ve ticked off dream roles and worked with directors and creatives I’ve always admired,

I’ve worked with unbelievably talented people, and what I’ve discovered the most is that we are constantly learning and evolving with every opportunity we get. My career hasn’t been easy, I’ve had to push and believe in myself, and, mostly, I’ve had the best support system around me.

What else do you see in your future?

My biggest hope is to continue to have a full and fun career in this incredible industry. We are so lucky to be able to call this our job. My biggest goal is to always be happy, motivated and present, my family to be healthy, and mostly to never ever stop learning and evolving as a human being.