Glynis Davies Talks Black Mirror, Her Passion Project on Mary Shelley, and Why She Never Left Vancouver
…The first and biggest lesson we learn as actors is relaxation. That goes hand in hand with trusting yourself and trusting that it’s YOU they hired. It’s important to stay away from comparisons — yearning to be more like someone else, getting obsessed with social media… Staying healthy is also so important — getting sleep, meditating, taking long walks. Trust yourself, be kind to yourself, and be kind to other people…
I had the pleasure of talking with Glynis Davies. Glynis is a Canadian actress and writer whose career spans more than four decades, marked by steady, genre-spanning work in film and television. Known for her frequent appearances in science fiction productions and Canadian dramas, Davies has built a long-lasting presence in an industry often defined by its volatility, with a body of work that reflects both adaptability and endurance.
Born in Gloucester, England, Davies spent her early childhood in various towns across the UK, including Coventry and the village of Whissendine, before immigrating to Toronto, Canada, with her family in 1967. She was nearly ten years old at the time. Her initial interest in performing began during high school, where a one-woman show directed by her theatre arts teacher sparked what would become a lifelong dedication to the craft. After earning recognition through drama competitions, she pursued roles professionally, starting with a part in Evergreen, a television series featuring Ian McShane. While her early career focused heavily on theatre across Canada, Davies eventually turned her attention to screen acting.
Her film debut came in the late 1970s with roles in Canadian features such as Three Card Monte (1978), The Mouse and the Woman (1980), and Deadline (1981), during a time when Canadian cinema was gaining wider attention. Davies’ early filmography established her as a reliable character actress, and by the 1990s she began appearing in larger-scale productions, including Stella (1990) and the teen horror film Disturbing Behavior (1998). Her brief comedic role as Buffy’s mother in Scary Movie (2000) brought her visibility in the genre-parody sphere, while more recent credits in Antlers (2021) and Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) illustrate her continued relevance in Hollywood projects, often shot in British Columbia.
Though her film work has remained consistent, Davies is perhaps most recognized for her extensive television career, especially within the science fiction genre. She is among a small group of actors to have appeared in The X-Files, Stargate SG-1, and Smallville — three of North America’s most enduring science fiction series. Her appearances also span both the 1985 and 2002 revivals of The Twilight Zone, as well as episodes of The Outer Limits and Stargate Universe, including their respective finales. This steady stream of science fiction roles has made her a familiar presence to fans of the genre.
Outside of science fiction, Davies has had roles in a range of television programs that showcase her ability to move across genres. She appeared in Travelers (2016), Spooksville (2013), and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2020), as well as more contemporary dramas like A Million Little Things (2021). In 2023, she played Leslie in AMC’s Lucky Hank, and in 2024, she portrayed Elizabeth Godfrey in the Hulu crime series Under the Bridge. That same year, she also featured in made-for-television movies, including Love at the Bootcamp and Blind Date Book Club.
Parallel to her acting work, Davies has maintained a screenwriting career that has earned industry accolades. Her short film Revisited (1998) received nominations at both the Leo and Genie Awards. Another short, Lift (2000), also earned a Leo nomination. In 2005, she wrote and acted in Desolation Sound, a feature, a semifinalist for the Nicholl Fellowship, that brought her dual Leo nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Screenwriter. The film remains one of her more personal achievements, reflecting her capacity to contribute creatively both in front of and behind the camera.
Davies relocated from Toronto to Vancouver in 1993, following the end of her marriage, and has since remained based in British Columbia. Her move coincided with the city’s emergence as a hub for film and television production, allowing her to work steadily across a range of projects filmed in the region. Speaking candidly about her career, she often attributes her longevity to a blend of persistence, adaptability, and an ability to stay grounded amid the highs and lows of an unpredictable industry.
Davies has been candid about personal health challenges, including a breast cancer diagnosis, which temporarily slowed her work. Nevertheless, she returned to acting in 2025 with a small role in Murder in a Small Town and continues to develop new writing projects. Among them is Unrepentant — Iconic Women of History, a series of filmed monologues she is contributing to, with her piece focused on Mary Shelley, scheduled to be shot in Toronto.
Her perspective on the entertainment industry remains pragmatic. She speaks of acting as a craft that requires ongoing self-reflection and resilience, emphasizing the importance of relaxation, health, and resisting the urge to compare oneself to others — principles she considers central to maintaining a sustainable creative life. Though she expresses humility about her impact, Davies’ longevity and range suggest a career defined not by breakout moments, but by consistent and quietly influential work across decades of changing trends and formats.
Now in her sixties, Davies remains active in both her professional and personal pursuits. While she may downplay her visibility, audiences continue to encounter her across television and film, often in roles that, while understated, contribute meaningfully to the stories being told. Whether as a nurse in a horror film, a teacher in a television drama, or a historical voice through her writing, Glynis Davies has steadily made her mark in Canadian and international screen culture alike.
Yitzi: Glynis, it’s so nice to meet you. Before we dive in deep, our readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you share the story of your childhood and how you grew up?
Glynis: My childhood. I was born in Gloucester, England. We lived there — my sister and I. I was the younger sister. We lived there for a year and then moved to Coventry. My brother was born. I lived in various places in England. The last place we lived was a village called Whissendine, right before we moved to Canada in 1967. I was almost 10 years old when we moved to Toronto. I lived in Toronto for many years, until I moved to Vancouver in 1993, and I’ve been here ever since.
Yitzi: Can you tell us the story of how you first entered the entertainment industry?
Glynis: I was pretty young the first time I was bitten by the bug, as they say. I was about 16, in high school. My theatre arts teacher gave me a one-woman show to do, which I performed at 16 or 17 years old. I was entered into contests, and I ended up winning what was called at the time, The Simpsons’ Drama Festival. At that point, I thought I knew what I wanted to do. I continued with school plays and soon after got into the business professionally. I did a little film and then landed a role in a bigger series, Evergreen, with Ian McShane. I was very young when I started and dabbled in film and television, but my main focus was theatre. I traveled a bit throughout Canada doing theatre, but I was always interested in film and TV. Things were starting to happen in Vancouver, and at around the same time, my marriage ended. I decided to come out here on my own, and I never looked back. I didn’t return to theatre, but I’ve done quite a bit of film and television. I’ve also continued writing, which has always interested me, and I’ve had some success with that as well.
Yitzi: You probably have some amazing stories from your long career. Longevity in this industry is really unique and special. Can you share one or two stories that stand out in your mind from your professional life?
Glynis: Hmm. One that really comes to mind isn’t anything too sensational, but at the time, it was quite something. It was during Covid, right in the middle of it all — October 2020. I had done a small part in Jurassic World. I went to Merritt, BC, and filmed for just one day. It was wonderful, but I thought that was the end of it. Then, out of the blue, they contacted me again. They had written me into a couple of additional scenes and wanted me to go to Malta. I was shocked, but of course I was up for it. Because of Covid complications, they ended up redirecting the shoot to England. I went there, in the middle of the pandemic, and stayed in this fabulous hotel while we isolated for seven days. That experience would never have happened had I not been a working actor in Vancouver who happened to get lucky with a trip to England during Covid. That was a standout. Oh, I’ve got lots of stories, but that’s the one that comes to mind right now.
Yitzi: It’s been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a funny mistake you made when you were first starting acting, and the lesson you learned from it?
Glynis: Oh, God. Oh, boy. One of the first terrible mistakes I made was during a play — David Mamet’s The Woods. It was for an equity showcase. It was an intense play, a two-hander, very difficult, with very little rehearsal, and I was a bit out of my depth.
At one point in the play, the character I was playing — I think it was Ruth — picks up an oar and attacks the guy. In the center of the oar, of course, is the oar pin that hooks into the boat. I picked up the oar, but I was stressed and not grounded that night. I did what we had rehearsed and went running toward my partner, but I wasn’t holding the oar properly, and I hit him in the eye with the oar pin.
It was just a horrible moment. As you can imagine, the lights came up and the production stopped. That was one of the biggest lessons I ever learned — just trusting yourself and not letting nerves and stress get the better of you. I didn’t know enough at the time to take a breath, settle in, and do my work. I let the stress take over.
Anyway, it’s a crazy story, but yeah, I remember when the lights came up, my brother was sitting in the audience, and he just looked completely aghast. He couldn’t believe what had happened. So, I guess that does count as learning something from a mistake. I’ve definitely thought about it.
Yitzi: You have so much impressive work. Can you share with our readers the exciting things you’re working on now, whatever you’re allowed to share?
Glynis: I’ve just been through something personal — breast cancer. That’s been a pretty huge journey in itself. Getting through that over the last year has been a challenge.
I was so thrilled, though, because I lost my hair, and I wasn’t in any shape to be auditioning. I haven’t worked much in the last year. But I did get a couple of days on a little series shooting up here called Murder in a Small Town, and I was pretty excited about that. It was my first job back.
As for what’s coming up, there’s some whispering about a project I can’t talk about yet. But on the writing side, I’m excited. I’m working on a project being done in Toronto called Unrepentant Women. It’s a series of monologues about iconic women of history. I wrote the monologue on Mary Shelley. That’s being filmed in August, and I’m pretty excited about it.
Yitzi: That’s amazing. We love it. You’ve been in so many iconic franchises like Stargate, Black Mirror, and The Twilight Zone. What does it feel like to be part of such iconic properties?
Glynis: Yeah. Well, look, I’m a working actor in Vancouver. It’s a lot of hard work. Getting a gig is tricky, especially now with everything being done through self-tapes.
It’s always fantastic to get on a show. When I’m there, working, I always have a moment where I look around and think, “Yeah, this is what I’ve always wanted to do, and this is what I’m doing.” It’s really great. People work so hard and are so focused.
Most of the time, it’s just a lovely environment to be in. And I think the industry has changed over the years. I think it’s upped its game in terms of taking care of actors. There seems to be more respect now. Maybe that’s because I’m older, I don’t know.
But honestly, the gift is in the job. Getting the job is the work. You have to keep upgrading your skills. Every job is like starting all over again.
Yitzi: You’ve been in one of my favorite series, Black Mirror. What do you think it is that makes it so compelling?
Glynis: That was a crazy experience because it happened so out of nowhere. I got offered this little part in Black Mirror, and I knew it was coming up, but right before we started shooting, my hair started falling out from the chemo I was on.
My agent knew, and I said, “I can’t do this. I’m not going to have any hair in three days.” I told them they’d have to find someone else. But they were fantastic. I spoke to the hair team and explained everything, and they said, “Oh no, no.” They brought me down to set, took off what little hair was left, set me up with a wig, and were just incredible.
The set was great, the team was lovely, and it was a fun shoot. That’s an experience I’ll never forget.
Yitzi: So what do you think it is that makes Black Mirror such a beloved series?
Glynis: I haven’t seen all of it, to be honest. It’s pretty scary, isn’t it? The episode I did hit close to home.
I think what makes it special is that it’s so dark and yet so close to reality. It’s fiction, but it feels eerily possible.
Yitzi: You were in the Jurassic Park franchise too. Why do you think that series has remained so beloved and enduringly popular?
Glynis: I don’t know. Boys love their dinosaurs, don’t they? It’s action-packed.
Honestly, it’s not my genre, but kids love a dinosaur.
Yitzi: You seem to have gravitated toward a lot of science fiction shows. Do you like science fiction?
Glynis: I guess I’m just weird. I don’t know. I think part of it is that they shoot so much science fiction up here. I do like some of it, yeah. Stargate was great, wasn’t it?
Yitzi: What was the most challenging role or project you’ve taken on in the entertainment industry?
Glynis: Some of these Hallmark films can be a challenge because it’s so fast, and you get little time for prep, which can be tough. I remember reading once that one of the most difficult jobs in this business is being a lead actress in a Hallmark film shooting in Vancouver. I think there might be some truth to that.
Under the Bridge was a challenge, and I don’t know exactly why. Nerves can get to me. I guess with the bigger projects — the ones with big budgets — you start to panic a little. You don’t want to screw anything up.
Yitzi: This is our signature question. You’ve been blessed with a lot of success, and as we discussed, a lot of longevity in a difficult industry. Based on your experience, can you share five things you think are essential to creating a successful career in entertainment?
Glynis:
Well, the first and biggest lesson we learn as actors is relaxation. That’s definitely number one, and it goes hand in hand with trusting yourself and trusting that it’s YOU they hired.
I think it’s important to stay away from comparisons — yearning to be more like someone else, getting obsessed with social media, comparing yourself.
What’s that quote? “The antidote is in the venom.” I think that’s a good one, because sometimes you do get scared or stop trusting yourself. Or maybe you’re not feeling well, you’re not on your game, or you’ve said or done something wrong. You have to learn to just work with it so you don’t freak yourself out.
Staying healthy is also so important — getting sleep, meditating, taking long walks. Whatever it is, find a way to take care of yourself so you don’t fly off the handle.
Trust yourself, be kind to yourself, and be kind to other people. Know when you’re mirroring, and try not to be so harsh on others.
Yitzi: Beautiful. This is our final aspirational question. Glynis, because of your great work and the platform you’ve built, you’re a person of great influence. If you could spread an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would that be?
Glynis: This might sound like an old platitude, but trust in yourself. I’ve found that to be of most benefit. Find news sources that resonate with you. Social media, etc, it’s hard to know what to believe. There’s so much conflict, and you can’t always trust what’s being thrown at you. I do best when I just take a moment, think, “Hmm, I’m not sure about that,” and stick with what I genuinely believe.
Yitzi: Glynis, how can our readers continue to follow your work? How can we watch your films and support you in any way?
Glynis: Just watch TV, keep reading. I’m out there. I’m not really chasing attention. I’m always surprised when anyone’s seen something I’ve done. I don’t really know how to answer that one.
Yitzi: Glynis, I wish you continued success and continued good health, and I hope we can do this again next year.
Glynis: Absolutely. Really nice meeting you, Yitzi.
Glynis Davies Talks Black Mirror, Her Passion Project on Mary Shelley, and Why She Never Left… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.