American actress Wendy Davis grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and eventually graduated with a theater degree at the Howard University in Washington, D.C. Afterwards, she moved to Los Angeles to start an acting career. Her first television role came in 1991, with the syndicated comedy series The New WKRP in Cincinnati; here she played the attractive receptionist Ronnie Lee. She since appeared in numerous guest roles on television, starring in shows such as Coach and EZ Streets.
Davis’ television breakthrough came in 1996, when she joined the police drama High Incident. She was handpicked by Steven Spielberg to play the role of dead policeman’s widow Lynette White, a role which earned her critical acclaim. When the series ended in 1997, she resumed appearing on television in numerous guest roles, this time for shows like Profiler, Cursed, The District, Angel, Cold Case and Grey’s Anatomy.
Davis’ next regular television role came in 2007, when she joined the cast of the hit drama Army Wives. She played the role of Joan Burton, a dedicated and determined military officer who broke through her troubled past to become a high-ranking military officer. The wife of doctor and “army husband” Roland (Sterling K. Brown), she struggles to keep their marriage afloat after suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome after a tour of Afghanistan. This role earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination in 2008, as well as two Prism Awards in the same year.
Davis also appeared in several films. Her first, the 1980 independent release Powder Heads (where she played a bit role), was followed by other features like Return to Two Moon Junction, Brittle Glory and Mother Ghost. Her stints on stage have also received success; her role in the play Talking With earned her a Drama-Logue Award. Aside from acting, she also teaches aspiring actors at the Los Angeles Actors Center.