Viola Davis: A Journey Of Resilience And Talent

Viola Davis is not just a name; it's a testament to talent, hard work, and breaking barriers in the entertainment industry. Born in South Carolina in 1965, her journey from humble beginnings to becoming an acclaimed actress is inspiring. With a career spanning over two decades, Viola has made significant contributions to theater, film, and television, garnering numerous awards and accolades along the way.

Viola's upbringing was marked by challenges, including poverty and a turbulent family background. However, she found solace and inspiration in movies, which ignited her passion for acting. She pursued this passion earnestly, earning a theater degree from Rhode Island College and further honing her craft at the prestigious Juilliard School. Her Broadway debut in Seven Guitars set the stage for what would become a remarkable career.

Throughout her career, Viola has consistently chosen roles that not only showcase her extraordinary talent but also highlight important social issues. From her powerful performance in Doubt, which earned her an Academy Award nomination, to her Emmy-winning role in How to Get Away with Murder, Davis has proven to be an actress who embodies both strength and vulnerability. Her ability to portray complex characters has made her a role model for aspiring actors everywhere.

Biography

Table of Contents

• Who Is Viola Davis?
• Early Career
• Movies and TV Shows
• Emmy and Oscar Wins
• Personal Life and Family

Who Is Viola Davis?

Viola Davis grew up in Rhode Island, where she began acting — first in high school, and then at Rhode Island College. After attending the Juilliard School of Performing Arts, Davis made her Broadway debut in 1996 in Seven Guitars. She has won Tony Awards for her performances in King Hedley II (2001) and a revival of August Wilson's Fences (2010), which co-starred Denzel Washington. Her film work includes Doubt (2008), for which she received an Oscar nomination, The Help (2011), Ender's Game (2013), and Get on Up (2014). In 2015, she became the first African American woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work on the television series How to Get Away with Murder. She reprised her role playing Rose Maxson in the 2016 film adaptation of Fences, directed by and co-starring Washington, for which she received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2017.

Early Career

Growing up poor in Rhode Island, Davis found an oasis from her family's financial woes in watching movies. Her father worked at racetracks, often as a horse groomer. She discovered a love of acting early in high school. At Rhode Island College, Davis earned her degree in theater in 1988. From there, she soon continued her studies at the famed Juilliard School of Performing Arts in New York City.

Movies and TV Shows

On the small screen, Davis tried her hand at series television with the medical drama City of Angeles, in 2000. She also made several guest appearances on other shows as well; one of her most notable performances was as a serial killer on Law & Order. It is one of her favorite roles, despite some negative reactions in the African American community.

Emmy and Oscar Wins

As an African American actress, Davis continues to look for more meaningful roles and perhaps start up some projects of her own. "It is a time when Black women now have no choice but to take matters in their own hands and create images for ourselves ... It's up to us to look for the material, it's up to us to produce it ourselves, it's up to us to choose the stories."

Personal Life and Family

Davis is married to actor Julius Tennon. The couple adopted a daughter, Genesis, in 2011.