Viola Davis is reflecting on the role that redefined her career and television itself. During an onstage interview at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, Davis revealed that her proudest achievement is her portrayal of the fierce and complex Annalise Keating in the legal drama thriller How to Get Away with Murder.
Launched in 2014, How to Get Away with Murder was a game-changer for more than just its gripping plot twists and edge-of-your-seat suspense. The series marked a significant shift in how women, especially women of color, were portrayed on screen. Davis’ character, Annalise Keating, was unapologetically flawed, strong, and vulnerable, breaking stereotypes with every episode.
Davis acknowledged the bravery it took to bring Annalise to life, a complex and multifaceted character who challenged the traditional portrayals of women on television.
“And so, I was given the character … her name was Annalise DeWitt when I first started, and I was like, DeWitt? So, I did change that. I changed it to Annalise Keating. I mean, she could have been DeWitt, but it’s just so grand.”
She continued, “But the reason why I think I’m proud of it is because I felt it was brave of me. I haven’t always been brave in my life, but that was one moment that I was brave. I had a decision to make: I could just join the crop of women who work on TV who, to be honest, they have a certain look in the lead roles.”
Viola Davis also shared that celebrity status often leads to numerous negative messages from friends. She also disclosed that many people believe Annalise Keating is miscast, while others view her as mysterious and sexual, contradicting her true identity.
“And so, here’s what I had to do: I had to at least try to lose weight and try to be that woman who could be on television, which is not going to happen. I was about 50 years old at the time. It’s not like I was going to do Botox and start eating string beans,” Davis shared. Adding, “So, then I had to ask some questions: Why do I have to be that woman? Why does she have to walk great in heels? Why can’t I be the size I am? And why can’t all those things be true and I be on network TV? Why can’t I take my wig off? Why can’t I wear my natural hair?”
“And every time I asked, ‘Why?’ I got to the truth of who Annalise was, and so then I had something to work with, which is trying the best I could with network TV writing to make her some semblance of a human being, and so that was the first thing with Annalise Keating!”
