Viola Davis is a highly acclaimed American actress and producer. She was born on August 11, 1965, in St. Matthews, South Carolina. Davis is best known for her powerful and critically acclaimed performances in film, television, and stage productions. Davis has won numerous awards for her work, including an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and an Emmy Award. She is the first African American actress to win the Triple Crown of Acting, which consists of an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony.
Viola Davis’s Career
Viola Davis began her acting career on stage, appearing in several Broadway and off-Broadway productions throughout the 1990s. Her first major film role was in the 1996 movie The Substance of Fire, and she went on to appear in several other films, including Out of Sight, Antwone Fisher, and Solaris.
In 2008, Davis played the role of Mrs.Miller in the film Doubt. Her performance in the film earned her critical acclaim and several award nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Davis started proving herself again and again as a powerful actress, with roles in films such as The Help, Prisoners, and Get on Up.
Davis has also had a successful career on television. In 2014, she began starring in the hit ABC drama series How to Get Away with Murder, for which she won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She has also appeared in other TV series, including United States of Tara and City of Angels.
List of all Viola Davis Movies and TV shows
Viola Davis Movies
The Substance of Fire (1996)
Out of Sight (1998)
Traffic (2000)
Antwone Fisher (2002)
Solaris (2002)
Far from Heaven (2002)
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2005)
World Trade Center (2006)
Doubt (2008)
Madea Goes to Jail (2009)
Knight and Day (2010)
Eat Pray Love (2010)
The Help (2011)
Prisoners (2013)
Get on Up (2014)
Blackhat (2015)
Suicide Squad (2016)
Fences (2016)
Widows (2018)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
The Suicide Squad (2021)
The Woman King (2022)
Viola Davis’s TV shows
City of Angels (2000)
The Pentagon Papers (2003)
Century City (2004)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2003-2008)
United States of Tara (2011)
How to Get Away with Murder (2014-2020)
Scandal (2015-2016)
Sesame Street (2016)
American Koko (2017)
Documentary Now! (2018)
Troop Zero (2019)
Peace Maker (2021)
The First Lady(2022)
Viola Davis's Early Life And Education
Davis grew up in a family of six siblings and faced significant financial struggles during her childhood. Despite the challenges, Davis was a high achiever in school and was encouraged by her parents to pursue her education. She went to Central Falls High School in Rhode Island, where she took part in drama and theater programs. Davis graduated from Rhode Island College in 1988 with a degree in theater and later attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where she earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in acting in 1993.
Viola’s Personal Life
Viola Davis is married to Julius Tennon and together they have a daughter named Genesis. She is known for her advocacy work, particularly for promoting representation and diversity in Hollywood. One notable instance of this was her 2011 acceptance speech at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, where she emphasized the need for more diverse roles for women of color in the entertainment industry. In addition to her activism, Davis also contributes to various charitable organizations, such as Hunger Is and the Innocence Project.
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