IN CONVERSATION WITH GREG TARZAN DAVIS
interview by JANA LETONJA
Numéro Netherlands is thrilled to present GREG TARZAN DAVIS, gracing the cover of our 12th issue Aurora, captured by FERNANDO SIPPEL. TARZAN has quickly made a name for himself starring alongside Hollywood elite in two of the biggest global franchises. He stared in Paramount Pictures’ Academy Award Best Picture nominated and global box office hit TOP GUN: MAVERICK, and in the seventh installment of the global franchise MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING. We’ll be seeing him reteam with TOM CRUISE for the third consecutive film, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING, which will be released on 24th May.
You’ve had an incredible journey from teaching first grade to starring in blockbuster films. What was the moment that made you decide to take the leap into acting full-time?
Acting has always been something of a passion or something I've always wanted to do, but it was something that I didn't know was possible to do because I didn't have family in the industry. It wasn't until I was teaching and I used to tell my students “Follow your dreams. You can be whatever you want. You can do whatever you want”. And one of the kids asked me “What did you, when you were our age, want to be when you grew up?” I said I wanted to be an actor. And after that, I said let me see if I can give this a shot. Just see, because I'm telling these kids to follow their dreams and I'm not following mine. I'm being a hypocrite. So I gave it a shot. I gave myself two years, which was foolish because you can't put a time limit on what you're trying to accomplish. And fortunately for me, within those two years, things started working out for me. I ended up moving to Hollywood after a few roles that I booked in Chicago.
jacket OFFICINE GÉNÉRALE
shirt BUGATCHI
trousers ZADIG&VOLTAIRE
You started your acting career with theatre before moving into television and film. How does your theatre background influence your approach to acting today?
I've only done one play and that was the first type of acting I'd had ever done. I would love to do more, but there was a moment I'll never forget. My co-star, she had on this headpiece or something, and I'm having a conversation with her and I'm flirting with her, and I come up to her and it falls down on a tray that she's holding, and I freeze. This wasn't supposed to happen, so I look at her and then I look at the thing and I forget my lines, and she’s waiting for me to say my line. But her being an experienced actor, she goes off book and she says some stuff, and then she gets back to the line, and then I'm able to follow her lead after that.
That moment showed the beauty of this art form, of how mistakes can be so beautiful. And she turned it into something magnificent. And I take that one particular moment on stage to film and television. Mistakes are going to happen, go with it. You can improvise, you can learn. You can make things so much more better.
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full look SAINT LAURENT
Starring alongside legends like Tom Cruise and Harrison Ford is a dream for many actors. What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned from working with them?
I've had more time to talk to Tom since we've worked together for the past eight, nine years. And I had a little conversation with Harrison. I'm always curious, fascinated how people get to where they are in life. And both of them say “Just show up every day, be pleasant, always be prepared. This is a long career and if you just show up every day, you will get to that point.”. That was the common denominator. The famous story with Harrison Ford was him showing up for reading lines with other actors, and he ended up getting the part. And Tom just brings his best foot forward. Every time people see him, they're like “Hey, we want you to do more of what you're doing”.
TOP GUN: MAVERICK was a massive success. What was it like being part of such an iconic franchise, and did you feel any pressure stepping into such a beloved world?
It was a unique experience for me, that being one of the first movies that I was a part of, starting my career after only a year of moving to Hollywood. I was just trying to adapt to the industry while trying to exude confidence as if I know what I'm doing. I was surrounded by a great group of people, cast-mates and the filmmakers, like Tom, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Joseph Kosinski, and they helped me get my footing. From there, I would just ask Jerry a million questions, I would've annoyed the heck out of him. And whenever Tom had some downtime, I will pick his brain on how he navigated his career. Just watching him, how he operated on set and how precious he was with the material, and making sure that we was making a great film.
Initially, I didn't feel the pressure because I was just so consumed with booking the role in this massive blockbuster film. It was just excitement over that. But it wasn't until we were invited to the Air boss's house, which is the guy who's over the whole Navy, and you had all of these Navy pilots and their families coming up to us, telling us how much the first film meant to them and how they joined the Navy because of the film. And that's when it started hitting for me, that this movie is bigger than just the movie. When I saw the movie when I was young, it was just a great movie for me, but to other people, they are like second, third generation Navy pilots because of TOP GUN. That's when I realised this is going to be an important film for a lot of people.
jacket DSQUARED2
shirt and trousers ZEGNA
shoes CARLOS SANTOS
full look SAINT LAURENT
You worked with Tom Cruise again in MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART I and will return for MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING, which is one of the most anticipated films of 2025. What can fans expect from your character in this next instalment?
The first film, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART I, was an introduction to my character. And I think McQuarrie did a very good job at setting up my character for the potential journey that Degas will go on, especially towards the end of the film when I'm having a conversation with Shea Wingham’s character Briggs. Coming into this film, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING, you see him answer the question that he asked at the end of the last movie.
You can expect a fun ride. You will see Degas kicking some butt. You'll see some fun action sequences from start to finish of this film. And that's going to be exciting. It’s one that you don't want to miss.
The MISSION IMPOSSIBLE films are known for their intense stunts. Did you get to perform any stunts yourself, and what was the most challenging physical aspect of filming?
You have to train for these films, and the training itself is so intense. Tom sets you up in the best way possible in order to make sure that you are competent. He likes to write on a fly, so you never know what you're going to be doing in the film. One day, you'll be doing a fight sequence, and then the next, he says you're going to be drifting down the streets of wherever. They'll set you up with the proper training for anything.
During that time period of filming these two movies, I got a chance to work on a lot of skills, like drifting, fighting, weapons training, motorcycle. And I've worked with Pom, who is my girl. She's looked over me over these five years, which has been incredible. I think everybody in this film has really put their best foot forward to make sure that everything we do looks amazing.
jacket DSQUARED2
shirt and pants ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA
shoes CARLOS SANTOS
full look BALENCIAGA
full look BALENCIAGA
Would you say any of these things made you pick them up as a hobby because of doing it in the film?
Yes. I love racing, so I go to the track quite often. Also, from TOP GUN, I have my pilot's license now because of it. It's something about these things, you get addicted to. It's like “Oh, I tried it. I didn't know I would like it. Let me do a little bit more of it”.
You actually had to get a pilot license for TOP GUN?
I didn't have to. I chose to. After it, I love flying now.
You’ve worked across different genres, from action-packed blockbusters to drama series. Is there a particular type of role or genre you’d love to explore next?
I've done three action films so far, and I have to admit it's addicting, so I wouldn't mind doing another one, or another couple. But aside from from that, my guilty pleasure are rom-coms, I love watching them. So, at some point in my career, maybe my next film, I'd love to do a romance film.
shirt and pants OFFICINE GÉNÉRALE
tank SKIMS
shoes ROKET
jacket OFFICINE GÉNÉRALE
shirt BUGATCHI
trousers ZADIG&VOLTAIRE
What’s the most surreal or “pinch-me” moment you’ve experienced in Hollywood so far?
This career allows you to have many pinch me moments, so I have a list of them. If I had to pick one, I would have to say attending the Academy Award ceremony for TOP GUN: MAVERICK that was nominated Best Picture. Sitting in that auditorium, looking at the stage, something I used to watch on television, and shaking hands with celebrities, these great artists I used to watch growing up, that was a huge pinch me moment. I remember being a child and saying one day I'm going to be inside that building, and as I was sitting there, it came true.
What’s your go-to way to unwind after an intense schedule of filming?
I love traveling. What I typically do after I'm done filming, I would take a trip somewhere. So while I'm filming, I just pick a location and with my family, we'll say “All right, let's go here”. As soon as I wrap, I'll come home, just relax for like a week or so and then go out. Just go. Traveling is my way of unwinding.
jacket, shirt and pants BERLUTI
shoes CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
Looking back on your career, what would be the biggest advice you would be giving your younger self?
I guess I would give my younger self the same advice that I'm giving myself today. I plan on having a long career, so it's not about hitting the ball out the park. It's not about having that success tomorrow, the big super stardom, so be patient, but stay proactive.
Do you have any other projects coming up, besides MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING, that you can share with us about?
I'm developing a project, that I can't speak too much on right now. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING is going to coming out soon, and then hoping right after that, we can get this other one on its feet.
TEAM CREDITS:
talent GREG TARZAN DAVIS
photography FERNANDO SIPPEL
styling JASON REMBERT
grooming ANDREA PEZZILLO
creative producer ANA CAROLINA GONZALEZ
set design LEO JOHNSON
digital tech DANIELA CASTAÑEDA
photography assistant JUAN PABLO CHAVEZ
styling assistants BLAKE TURNER and EAN MICHAEL
assistant producer KYLIE SCHIFF
production assistant JANTZEN DENILO DENIS SILVA
set design assistant JUNN BOLLMANN
editor TIMI LETONJA
casting TIMI LETONJA & JANA LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN
