Getting to know Viola Davis
The actress talks about the challenges of being black in Hollywood – and why her new movie tells an important story
BUILDING FENCES Her new movie, Fences – in which she stars alongside the film’s director, Denzil Washington – is especially meaningful to the American actress. “Fences has been the experience of my life,” Viola (51) says. The film is about a working-class African-American family in the ’50s and Viola describes herself as having “lived in abject poverty and dysfunction” during her childhood. Her father, Dan, was a horse trainer and her mother, Mary, a maid, factory worker, homemaker and civil rights activist. Viola’s dedicated her role in the film, which is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by August Wilson, to her father. “[My dad] was born in 1936, groomed horses, had a fifth-grade education, didn’t know how to read until he was 15 . . . [but] he had a story and it deserved to be told, and August Wilson told it.”
AMASSING ACCOLADES Last year she became the first black actress to win an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for How To Get Away With Murder, and her Oscar nomination for best supporting actress this year has made her the first black actress to be nominated for three Academy Awards. In January she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “I can’t believe my life right now – that Meryl Streep spoke at my Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, with my handsome husband and beautiful daughter and my family,” she said on the day. “It’s like my life flashing before my eyes and all I can say is God has blessed my life in abundance.”
MAKING HER OWN WAY Besides looking for meaningful acting roles, The Help star has also started a few projects of her own. She and actor husband Julius Tennon (63) started their own production company – called JuVee Productions – and have sold a comedy series to US TV network ABC. “Black women now have no choice but to take matters into their own hands and create images for ourselves . . . It’s up to us to look for the material, it’s up to us to produce it ourselves, it’s up to us to choose the stories.”
CHEERLEADER When a young actor lamented on Twitter that he knew at the audition already that he hadn’t got the part, Viola had some words of encouragement. “Even the biggest stars have been told no. Never let that stop you from doing what you love. You’ll get there. #PowerOfDreams,” the Suicide Squad actress replied.
MIRACLE OF MOTHERHOOD Viola and hubby Julius adopted a daughter named Genesis in 2011. “I always tell Genesis she was born from my heart, not my belly,” says the actress, adding that she wants women to know adopting is just as beautiful as birthing a child. “There are so many ways to mother other than to carry a child in your body. So many children need parents, and so many of us want to mother. Know that you’ll experience motherhood to the full extent.” She’s said she hopes to set Genesis (5) up with Sandra Bullock’s seven-yearold son. “I’d absolutely love to set her up with Louis! That kid is so cute. He’s going to be a bruiser. But let’s try to get a playdate in first. If they’re ever in the same place, we’ll get them together.”
Fences is on in SA cinemas.