Top 10 Coolest Things About Viola Davis
Viola Davis has built a career that blends powerhouse performances with meaningful industry impact. From scene-stealing turns on the big screen to history-making moments on television, she keeps expanding what’s possible for leading actors. Here are ten standout facts—led by her film and TV milestones—showing exactly how she did it.
‘How to Get Away with Murder’ (2014–2020) – First Black woman to win Lead Actress in a Drama Emmy
Davis made television history playing defense attorney and law professor Annalise Keating. Her win as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series marked a first for a Black woman in that category. The show anchored a broader wave of character-driven network dramas led by complex women. Her performance also sparked crossovers with other Shondaland series, strengthening one of TV’s most-watched storytelling universes.
‘Fences’ (2016) – Oscar-winning performance adapted from her Tony-winning role
Reprising Rose Maxson on film after conquering the role on Broadway, Davis won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The adaptation preserved August Wilson’s dialogue and intensity, with Davis matching the play’s emotional power on screen. Her work opposite Denzel Washington showcased a lived-in marriage and generational struggle. The film cemented her rare feat of translating a lauded stage role into an equally celebrated screen performance.
‘Doubt’ (2008) – Earned an Oscar nomination with minimal screen time
Davis received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for a role that appears only briefly yet leaves a lasting impact. Her character’s conversation with a principal and a nun reframed the film’s central moral questions. The performance demonstrated how precision and presence can carry enormous weight. It became a frequently cited example of how a few scenes can redefine a movie’s stakes.
‘The Help’ (2011) – Led an ensemble that won top guild honors
As Aibileen Clark, Davis anchored a multigenerational cast and earned a Best Actress nomination from the Academy. The film’s ensemble won the Screen Actors Guild’s top motion-picture award. Her performance helped drive the story’s commercial reach and cultural conversation. It also underscored her ability to lead large casts while delivering deeply interior character work.
‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ (2020) – Brought a music icon to visceral life
Portraying blues legend Ma Rainey, Davis transformed physically and vocally to capture the performer’s authority and swagger. She earned major awards recognition for the role, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The film, adapted from August Wilson, highlighted tensions among performers, producers, and the recording industry. Davis’s portrayal foregrounded an artist’s fight for autonomy in a changing business.
‘The Woman King’ (2022) – Starred in and produced a groundbreaking historical epic
Davis headlined and produced this large-scale action drama centered on women warriors of the West African kingdom of Dahomey. She trained extensively in combat and conditioning to lead the film’s battle sequences. The production showcased a predominantly female ensemble and creative team. Its success demonstrated audience demand for expansive historical narratives led by Black women.
‘Air’ (2023) – Cast as Deloris Jordan after a personal endorsement by Michael Jordan
Director Ben Affleck has said Michael Jordan personally requested Davis to play his mother, Deloris Jordan. Her performance anchors the negotiations at the heart of the story about a culture-shifting sneaker deal. Davis appears alongside Julius Tennon, her real-life husband, adding layered family dynamics to key scenes. The role underscores her reputation among peers and sports icons alike.
‘Suicide Squad’ (2016) – Cemented Amanda Waller as a pivotal DC character
Davis’s take on Amanda Waller established the character as a strategic force within DC’s live-action universe. She returned in subsequent projects, including ‘The Suicide Squad’ and ‘Peacemaker’, to connect storylines across films and series. Her portrayal emphasized intelligence, ruthlessness, and national-security realism. It set a benchmark for non-superpowered figures shaping superhero narratives.
EGOT milestone – Completed the rare awards quartet with a Grammy for ‘Finding Me’
Davis is among the few performers to achieve EGOT status, adding a Grammy for narrating her memoir ‘Finding Me’. The honor joined her Emmy, Oscar, and multiple Tony Awards. The audiobook win recognized her storytelling craft beyond screen and stage. It capped a cross-medium career defined by excellence and range.
JuVee Productions – Building opportunities for inclusive stories and creators
Alongside Julius Tennon, Davis co-founded JuVee Productions to develop film and TV projects with diverse voices at the center. The company champions character-driven stories across genres and formats. Its slate includes collaborations with major studios and streamers, expanding on-screen representation. Through JuVee, Davis has leveraged her platform to shift which stories get told—and who gets to tell them.
Share your favorite Viola Davis moment in the comments and tell us which role you think defines her legacy!