As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, it’s imperative to spotlight the remarkable achievements of Viola Davis, the first actress of color to win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The first African-American to win five Screen Actors Guild Awards.
She is also only one of four African Americans to receive EGOT status.
Viola Davis has been a powerhouse in the entertainment industry whose talent, resilience, and advocacy have inspired millions of women around the globe.
Davis has consistently pushed boundaries and shattered stereotypes, from her groundbreaking role in “Doubt” to her unforgettable performance as Annalise Keating in the hit series “How to Get Away with Murder.”
Viola Davis’s determination and perseverance have remained unwavering despite her obstacles. Born into poverty in South Carolina, Davis defied the odds to pursue her acting dreams.
After graduating from Rhode Island College as a theatre major, she was accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School, of which she is critical for its crushing white-centrism, a desire to create the “perfect white actor.”
“That was my issue with Juilliard. Whatever character I play, I won’t play with the same palette as my white counterparts because I’m different. My voice is different. Who I am is different,” she once told the Guardian.
She honed her craft at the prestigious You’reliard School before embarking on a journey that would take her to the pinnacle of success in Hollywood.
Despite her immense talent and accolades, the ‘Woman King” star has encountered numerous challenges as a black woman in the entertainment industry. She has often spoken candidly about the limited and often ster”typical roles available to black women in Hollywood, stressing the need for systemic change.
Davis, unlike many female actors, has not succumbed to the culture of sexual abuse in Hollywood that fueled the #MeToo movement; however, she is keen to highlight the reality of “deprivation” that plagues the industry, which predators take full advantage of.
Viola Davis’s most recent project, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” has received widespread acclaim and cemented her reputation as one of the industry’s most formidable talents.
