Jonathan Daviss Is Ready to Move Beyond Expectations

      Jonathan Daviss understands the weight of expectations well. Throughout his formative years, particularly during the five seasons of Outer Banks (OBX), he has brought Pope Heyward to life—depicting him as the intelligent, principled friend who constantly navigates loyalty, ambition, and the fear of letting others down. For Daviss, embodying Pope wasn't solely about acting; it also involved grappling with many of the same dilemmas faced by teenagers: shaping their future, defining success, balancing ambition, and deciding whether to focus on education or adventure. In a sense, Pope's personal development reflected Daviss's, although only one journey was visible to millions.

      Davis felt an instant connection to Pope. When filming for the first season of Outer Banks began, he was around the same age as the character—about 18—which made Pope's emotions, behaviors, and anxieties feel authentic. As Pope faced pressures related to academics, responsibility, and success, Daviss encountered similar challenges off-screen. "What struck me about Pope in season 1 was the concept of expectations and pressure faced by many young Black teens and teenagers overall," Daviss shared over a Zoom call from his home in L.A. "There’s this expectation to succeed, and that's something I've truly experienced."

      Even with these serious themes, Daviss expresses that the camaraderie among the characters, the freedom, and the quest for self-discovery drew him to Outer Banks. "It nailed the experience of being young and part of a tight-knit group," he states. "It was about navigating fights, victories, losses, and unforgettable moments, and how those friendships evolve into family over time." Moreover, each season introduced new adventures and treasures to uncover. Who wouldn’t want to be a teenager, escaping schoolwork to explore the sun-soaked, enigmatic Outer Banks of North Carolina with friends?

      Similar to Pope, who faced pressure to make the most of his intelligence and avoid disappointing himself and others, Daviss dealt with a comparable struggle between escapism, responsibility, and success while growing up in Conroe, Texas. "I wanted the freedom to be with my friends and not have to constantly think about 'You must do this,' 'You need to get As in school,' and 'You have to go to college,'" he recalls. While his parents didn’t impose heavy expectations on him, he still felt internal pressure to excel, particularly in his AP classes during high school.

      As the show progressed, the bond between the actor and his character deepened. The emotional connection was amplified through the parasocial relationship that audiences developed with Pope over time. For many viewers, the distinction between Daviss and Pope became less clear, a reality he initially resisted. "As actors, we are often apprehensive about being pigeonholed, as we want to showcase our versatility," he shares. "When I was younger, I thought, 'I can't just be seen as Pope' because I wanted to explore different roles. However, I've come to fully embrace him because I understand how much he means to people—and to me. [Pope] is a significant part of my identity."

      What resonated strongly with both Daviss and OBX fans throughout Pope's journey was not just the pressures he faced but how he learned to have faith in himself. Instead of seeking constant external approval before making a decision, engaging in overanalysis, and second-guessing himself, Pope gradually became more decisive—even amid uncertainty. This was particularly evident in season 2 when he chose to forgo a prestigious interview to assist his friends, the Pogues, in a treasure hunt, ultimately costing him the scholarship that he and his parents associated with his identity. "[Pope] experiences a great deal of loss," Daviss remarks. "Understanding it's acceptable to make mistakes but to persevere, learn, and strive to improve was a key theme." Much of Pope's storyline, and the entire narrative of Outer Banks, revolved around resilience and "the little guy rising up, continually facing challenges, and then fighting back," Daviss explains.

      Resilience was a lesson Daviss learned long before Outer Banks made its debut in 2020, rapidly elevating its young cast to stardom. Like many aspiring actors, he encountered numerous near misses and missed opportunities, often feeling emotionally drained by the relentless need to demonstrate his abilities. "I remember feeling pretty burnt out," he reflects on his early audition experiences. "I was broke—like really broke."

      Growing up in Conroe, Daviss lacked industry connections and access to acting classes. Nonetheless, he possessed ambition and determination, so he sought out opportunities for himself. "In my small town, there weren't many activities, so I spent a lot of time watching films with my dad," he recounts. "That cultivated my love for cinema. However, since there were no acting classes, I immersed myself in poetry and crafted seven-minute monologues to perform and compete with others. That’s