Actress, writer, singer, and beyond, Kamai Davael joined executive producer and host Kelsey Nicole Nelson on Listen In with KNN’s radio show and podcast, where she opened up about her journey navigating the creative industry as a young Black creative woman.

 

Davael found her footing in the entertainment industry when she was cast as fan favorite, Lavender, in “Matilda,” starring Mara Wilson — but most people don’t know she almost did not land the iconic role.

 

“So, what’s interesting, and I love telling this story, because this role actually was not meant for someone who looked like me.” Said Davael.

 

Davael credits a pivotal moment from the casting process that changed everything. After her audition, she met the film’s director, Danny DeVito, and his late wife, Rhea Perlman, whose mother, Miss Susie, played an unexpected role in shaping the film’s legacy.

 

“Miss Susie told him, that’s your Lavender.”

 

From that moment on, Davael became part of a film that would go on to define a generation — especially for young Black girls who saw themselves reflected in a character who was both intelligent and unapologetically unique.

 

“I feel like I’ve always wanted to act. I’ve known that since a very, very young age,” she said. 

“So I’m just so grateful that I was just given the opportunity to have such an iconic role and to be able to show more of us in that way, and being smart and with the glasses and, you know, being okay to be different and quirky.”

 

While Matilda cemented Davael as a standout child star, her journey didn’t stop there. Instead of remaining defined by one role, she’s spent years evolving—both creatively and personally.

 

Davael focused on her education, attending the University of Kentucky, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in theater. The decision marked a pivotal moment in her journey — one that allowed her to grow beyond the expectations of childhood fame and better understand both herself and the characters she brings to life. Rather than viewing school as a detour, Davael embraced it as a foundation, using her studies to deepen her perspective on storytelling and human behavior.

 

“I definitely stepped into more of a production role. So I write, so I’ve been able to write a lot of different screenplays.”

 

Rather than remaining solely in front of the camera, Davael has expanded her artistry across multiple disciplines, embracing roles as a writer, producer, and musician. That evolution has also given Davael a broader lens on the entertainment industry, one that extends beyond performance and into purpose.

 

“I think that there have been a lot of doors that have been opened for us,” she said, reflecting on the progress for Black women in Hollywood. “I think we’re taking, you know, the bull by the horns and being even more creative.”

 

With that shift has come a greater sense of agency, as Davael joins a growing wave of creatives who are actively working to reshape the industry and what it can do for them. From writing and producing to developing original projects, her work reflects a commitment to telling stories that are both authentic and expansive.

 

That commitment is perhaps most evident in her latest endeavor — a deeply personal documentary that invites audiences beyond the character they grew up with and into the woman she has become.

 

The upcoming documentary, titled “Lavender: Life After Matilda,” offers a closer look at the human behind the beloved character, exploring the highs, challenges, and growth that have shaped her journey.

 

“It has been … I say a journey, it has been a journey,” Davael said. “I’m learning so much about myself and things that I just didn’t even realize. It’s almost therapeutic, in a way.”

 

Through the film, Davael pulls back the curtain on both her personal and professional life, offering audiences a more complete understanding of who she is beyond the screen. In stepping into her own story, Davael isn’t just reflecting on all she has done; she is redefining what it means to grow, evolve, and be seen on her own terms.

 

“I want people to leave that learning more about me than when they started,” she said. “Because if I can, so can you.”