Viola Davis

Biography

Viola Davis, born on August 11, 1965, is a distinguished American actress and film producer renowned for her powerful performances. With an impressive array of accolades, she is one of the few to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting and the prestigious EGOT status. In recognition of her influence, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in both 2012 and 2017. In 2020, The New York Times ranked her as the ninth greatest actor of the 21st century, and she received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2025.

A proud Juilliard graduate, Davis launched her career in her hometown of Central Falls, Rhode Island, where she honed her craft in local theater. She made her Broadway debut in August Wilson's "Seven Guitars" in 1996, which earned her a Tony nomination. Davis has won two Tony Awards for her performances in Wilson's plays: the first for Best Featured Actress in "King Hedley II" (2001) and the second for Best Actress in "Fences" (2010).

Her film career includes an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 2016 adaptation of "Fences," as well as nominations for "Doubt" (2008), "The Help" (2011), and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" (2020). As the first Black actress to win a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for "How to Get Away with Murder" (2014–2020), she has broken barriers on television. Davis is also known for her roles in the DCEU as Amanda Waller, in "Widows" (2018), and in "The Woman King" (2022). Alongside her husband, she founded JuVee Productions and is a staunch advocate for human rights and women of color. In 2019, she became