Meet Davyd Markovich | Award Winning Theatre & Film Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Davyd Markovich and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Davyd, how do you think about risk?
We have one beautiful, complex life, at least as far as we know. The idea of reaching the end of it and realizing I never jumped off the highest diving board is far more terrifying than the ten seconds of free fall.

I think about risk all the time. In my pursuit of happiness, I’ve chosen to dive headfirst into an artist’s life. Less than 1% of actors make a living.

I risked everything when I chose to study theatre. I risked it again when I moved to this beautiful city, and again when I left a cushy corporate job for artistic flexibility. My mom likes to share this Ukrainian proverb that translates to “He who doesn’t risk doesn’t drink champagne.” The only risk I’m not willing to take is not living this one life to its fullest potential.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
This coming January, I will have been acting for more than half my life. Over the years, I’ve grown obsessive about this art. I’ve often joked with friends that when the time comes I wouldn’t mind going out and making the ghost light flicker, dying on stage in some grand Shakespeare death scene. But every actor says they are deadly serious about their love of the art, so what sets me apart?

To jump from the ocean and into the great lakes of actors, I can tell you that I came here with no money and no connections. My hard work and dedication made me a first-generation college graduate with a triple major and high honors, and, slowly but surely, I’ve built a life that I am proud of. I don’t just get cast once; I get brought back. I speak fluent Russian. I’ve stepped behind the lens and made my own films; shot a doc. I’ve been cast in almost 60 projects across theatre, film, and TV, and I have been critically recognized 14 times for my work as a lead actor in four films and two plays. Sure, some of those things may “set me apart” from some of my peers.

But I’ve studied the greats meticulously, and each performance I study teaches me something. Over time I learned that while our uniqueness is precious, storytelling is the discovery of the pieces of ourselves that live in someone else – or maybe even everyone else. When we share those pieces honestly, we stop seeing differences as barriers, or even pedestals, and instead see them as expressions of the same human thread, and that is what makes the work powerful.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I get really excited when friends are in town. I think travel is one of life’s best educators. In 2023, I took nine and a half months to backpack 28 different countries, and I must have done 150+ walking tours in that time. (Highly recommend budget travel and staying in hostels in your 20s btw)

If I were planning a week-long trip in LA, I’d pack the itinerary with not only the must-do tourist traps but also walking tours, like one in DT that would surely include a walk along the grand theaters on Broadway, historic Bunker Hill, Angels Flight, lunch at Grand Central Market; we’d pop into the fun shops and end the day in Pershing Square. Although we are not in Toledo, LA has a fascinating history of its own. People forget we have incredible museums here, too. A picture I took at the Getty Villa currently serves as my lock screen. After seven years here, I’m still uncovering everything this beautiful city has to offer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All creatives know that this life takes a village. I have been so fortunate to have had incredible support from friends, coaches, mentors, and my reps, and I am privileged to say that the list goes on. But nothing stands without a strong foundation and, for me, nothing compares to the foundation that is my parents, Tatyana and Marko. Everyday I am inspired by their courage, bravery, and infallible love when I think of how they endured the Soviet Union so they could eventually build a life for me here in America. Even as I began pursuing my wide-eyed and improbable dream of being an actor, they did not flinch. To this day, my mama & papa have not missed a single performance. Their love is my drive.

Website: https://davydmarkovich.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davydmarkovich/

Image Credits
Joe Lammers Pictures: 1, 2
Truls Valen Aasland Stills 3, 6
Natalie Serratos Picture 4
Sean Koffman Picture 5