Actress Viola Davis turns 59 today
She is known for her award-winning performances on screen and stage
Actress Viola Davis turns 59 today
Born in South Carolina, 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 and co-starring Denzel Washington, for which she received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2017. Davis married actor Julius Tennon, in June 2003. In 2011, Davis and her husband adopted an infant daughter. Davis is stepmother to Tennon’s son and daughter from previous relationships.
Viola Davis was born on August 11, 1965, in St. Matthews, South Carolina, to Mary Alice and Dan Davis. She was the second youngest of six children in a family of modest means. Shortly after her birth, her family moved to Central Falls, Rhode Island, where she was raised. Despite growing up in poverty, Davis found solace and inspiration in the arts from a young age. She attended Central Falls High School, where she developed a passion for acting. Davis went on to study theater at Rhode Island College, earning her degree in 1988, and later attended the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City.
Viola Davis began her acting career in the theater, making her Broadway debut in 1996 in August Wilson’s Seven Guitars, for which she earned a Tony Award nomination. Her talent and stage presence quickly caught the attention of both audiences and critics. She continued to make a name for herself in the theater world with her powerful performances, particularly in works by African American playwrights. In 2001, Davis won her first Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role in King Hedley II, another play by August Wilson.
Davis transitioned to film and television in the late 1990s, taking on supporting roles in films such as Out of Sight (1998) and Traffic (2000). Her ability to bring depth and authenticity to her characters made her a sought-after actress in Hollywood, though she often found herself cast in smaller roles that didn’t fully showcase her talents.
Viola Davis’s breakthrough came in 2008 with her performance in Doubt, where she played Mrs. Miller, a mother torn by the implications of her son’s relationship with a priest. Despite appearing in only one scene, Davis’s powerful portrayal earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. This role brought her widespread recognition and opened doors for more significant opportunities in the industry.
In 2011, Davis starred in The Help, playing Aibileen Clark, a maid in 1960s Mississippi. Her performance earned her another Academy Award nomination, this time for Best Actress. The role was a turning point in her career, solidifying her status as one of the leading actresses in Hollywood.
Davis continued to take on challenging and diverse roles. In 2014, she began starring as Annalise Keating in the ABC television series How to Get Away with Murder, a role that earned her critical acclaim and made her the first African American woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The show ran for six seasons, during which Davis became a household name and an influential figure in the entertainment industry.
In 2016, Viola Davis won her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Rose Maxson in the film adaptation of August Wilson’s Fences, a role she had previously played on Broadway, earning her a Tony Award. Her portrayal of Rose was lauded for its emotional depth and raw power.
Davis continued to make waves in Hollywood with roles in films such as Widows (2018), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020), and The Suicide Squad (2021). In 2021, she earned another Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of the legendary blues singer Ma Rainey, further cementing her reputation as one of the most talented and respected actresses of her generation.
Viola Davis is married to actor Julius Tennon, whom she wed in 2003. The couple has an adopted daughter, Genesis, and they have worked together on various projects through their production company, JuVee Productions. Davis is known for her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in Hollywood, as well as her commitment to social justice causes. She has spoken openly about her experiences growing up in poverty, and she continues to use her platform to address issues of race, gender, and inequality.
Davis has also been recognized for her humanitarian work, including her involvement with charities such as Hunger Is, which works to eradicate childhood hunger in the United States.
By Ken Warren, 2018
Watch Viola Davis in the heist thriller film “Widows”
Also, watch Viola Davis wins Best Supporting Actress for the film “Fences”
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