Viola Davis

About

Viola Davis is an esteemed American actress and producer, known for her compelling performances in film, television, and theatre. She was born on August 11, 1965, in St. Matthews, South Carolina. Davis graduated from the Juilliard School in 1993 and started her acting career on stage. She soon gained recognition for her work in Broadway's "King Hedley II," earning her first Tony Award. Davis's successful shift to the screen resulted in a critically acclaimed performance in "Doubt," followed by an Oscar-winning role in "Fences." Throughout her career, Davis has championed diversity in Hollywood and broken barriers for African-American actresses, becoming the first black actress to win a Tony, an Oscar, and an Emmy for acting. She has proven herself a powerful force in Hollywood, delivering performances of intensity and depth.

Associated With

Viola Davis is a renowned actress with a vast network of associations within the film industry. She has collaborated with numerous high-profile directors and actors on a variety of projects, adding to her distinguished career. In terms of her acting career, she has shared the screen with actors such as Denzel Washington in "Fences", for which she won an Oscar, and Meryl Streep in "Doubt", earning her first Oscar nomination. Behind the scenes, she has worked extensively with producer Shonda Rhimes, starring in the popular series "How to Get Away with Murder". Apart from professional collaborations, her personal life includes her marriage to actor Julius Tennon. Davis and Tennon also co-founded production company JuVee Productions, contributing to the diversity in the industry.

Career Highlights

• 1996: Viola Davis begins her acting career on stage in "Seven Guitars" and later gets nominated for a Tony Award.
• 2001: Davis receives her first major award winning an Obie for her role in the drama, "King Hedley II".
• 2004: She gains recognition for her role in "Antwone Fisher" and wins the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female.
• 2008: Davis garners widespread acclaim for her supporting role in "Doubt", earning her first Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.
• 2010: Davis stars in "The Help" which further elevates her profile. For her performance, she received her second Academy Award nomination and won the Screen Actors Guild Award.
• 2012: She takes home her first Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role in "Fences".
• 2014: Davis begins her role in "How to Get Away with Murder", which earns her an Emmy Award in 2015; she is the first black woman to receive the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
• 2016: Davis reprises her role in the film adaptation of "Fences", earning her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
• 2017: She is named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
• 2020: Davis's performance in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" is lauded and she gets another Academy Award nomination, making her the most nominated black actress in the history of the Academy Awards.

Notable Awards

• Viola Davis is a highly acclaimed actress, known for her powerful performances in both film and television. Her major awards are as follows:
• Academy Awards (Oscars):
• - Best Supporting Actress for "Fences" (2017)
• Primetime Emmy Awards:
• - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for "How to Get Away with Murder" (2015)
• Tony Awards:
• - Best Featured Actress in a Play for "King Hedley II" (2001)
• - Best Actress in a Play for "Fences" (2010)
• Golden Globe Awards:
• - Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for "Fences" (2017)
• British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA):
• - Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "Fences" (2017)
• Screen Actors Guild Awards:
• - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for "The Help" (2012)
• - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for "Fences" (2017)
• - Three more for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture – "The Help" (2012), "Doubt" (2009), and "American Hustle" (2014)
• Critics' Choice Movie Award:
• - Best Supporting Actress for "Fences" (2016)
• Among other numerous recognitions and awards, Viola Davis has also been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017.

FAQs

What Is the Most Popular Viola Davis Movie/TV Show?

Viola Davis is renowned for her role in the critically acclaimed legal drama series, "How to Get Away with Murder," which aired on ABC from 2014 to 2020. In this series, Davis portrays Annalise Keating, a high-profile defense attorney and law professor who becomes embroiled in a murder plot along with her students. Her performance in the show won her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, making her the first black actress to win the award in that category. Therefore, "How to Get Away with Murder" can arguably be considered the most popular Viola Davis TV show.

How Did Viola Davis Get Famous?

Viola Davis gained fame primarily through her career as an actress both on stage and on screen. She began her acting career in theater, earning recognition and accolades for her performances such as the Tony Award for her role in "King Hedley II". However, her major breakthrough came with her supporting role in the 2008 film "Doubt" for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. She went on to star in various highly acclaimed films and television series, including "The Help", for which she received another Oscar nomination, and "How to Get Away with Murder", which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award. Davis additionally earned wide acclaim and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film adaptation of "Fences".