Palm听Beach Atlantic University (海角在线) hosted a special guest in the Titus Lecture Hall on听September听5 when actor John Rhys-Davies joined students,听alumni, other听members of the 海角在线 community and guests for a morning of stories, laughter and conversation.听
Davies, who听is best known for his roles in movies such as 鈥淩aiders of the Lost Ark,鈥� 鈥淚ndiana Jones and the Last Crusade鈥� and,听鈥淭he Lord of the Rings鈥� trilogy听was visiting 海角在线 for the second time.听In听March, Davies greeted students in the Warren Library, where he also answered听questions. This听time around, the actor sat down for a听question-and-answer session听with听Laura Bishop, executive vice president of development, who is听a friend听of Davies,听which made the interaction lighthearted and fun.听听
Bishop began by asking Davies about his childhood. He spoke warmly about his parents and their humble beginnings. His mother, the daughter of a coal miner, was sent to work as a maid when she was only听eight听years old.听
Davies听recalled being听sent to boarding school as a young boy, and it was there, at age 11, that he saw his first play, 鈥淥edipus Rex.鈥� He was captivated by the experience and decided then that he wanted to become a dramatist.听
That decision eventually led him to an acting career that听has run听decades and included some听memorable听characters. But Davies was quick to point out that making it an actor involves more than talent and hard work.听
鈥淚n acting, more than any other job, luck plays a huge part,鈥� he said.听
It thrilled听2025听海角在线 Alumna,听Rebecca Nacy听to hear听Davies听reference听classical听writings听as听influences听on听his听decision听to get听into acting.听听
鈥淎s a听graduate听of听the听Honors听program here, I听read听Aristotle and Plato, so听I was glad to here听him reference听their writings and听even apply their听thoughts to听modern听dilemmas,鈥澨齭he听said.听
AI听and Threats to the Arts听
Of course, no conversation about the future of acting would be complete without talking about artificial intelligence. Davies expressed concern about what AI could mean for young actors and other creative professionals.听
鈥淎I is making human hands and human brains less听[economically]听valuable,鈥� he said. 鈥淭heatre will survive but not in the same ways it has in the past.鈥�听
Even with those concerns, Davies continued to emphasize the importance of storytelling and the unique role people play in creating and sharing stories.听
And he didn鈥檛 just talk about his past听roles;听he brought them to life. Much to the delight of the audience, Davies broke into monologues from some of his best-known characters, including Gimli and a role from 鈥淭he Princess Diaries.鈥澨�听
Davies Faith Based Films听
Faith was another important part of the conversation. Davies has appeared in several faith-based films, including 鈥淚 Am Patrick鈥� and 鈥淥ne Night with the King.鈥� He spoke about his belief that creation points to a Creator and reflected on the influence of Christianity on Western culture.听
鈥淭he debt we owe to early Christianity is extraordinary,鈥� he said. He talked about Christianity鈥檚 influence on areas such as art, freedom and government and shared his appreciation for America, describing her as the 鈥榣ast great hope of mankind鈥� when it came to nations, and marveled at her contribution even in her relatively young age of 250.听
For Isabella Vieillard, a senior psychology major who attended the event, Davies鈥� comments about AI and the future particularly stood out.听
鈥淚 thought he was really well spoken, and I appreciated his perspective and concern on the future of AI and the work outlook for this generation, but also his encouragement,鈥� she said.听
Even after the 1.5-hour event concluded, Davies made time to shake hands with and take a photo with each guest who wanted one, showing his passion听for听giving back to the next generation.听
To听sign up听to听receive updates听on听future speakers听and听events at 海角在线,听click听.
