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Viola Davis

Viola Davis
REX/Shutterstock

Details

Date of Birth:
August 11, 1965
Hometown:
St. Matthews

Bio:
Viola DavisĀ (born August 11, 1965 in St. Matthews, SC) is an award-winning America actress in TV, film and stage. She discovered her love of acting while a high school student in Rhode Island. She enrolled inĀ Rhode Island College, majoring in theater and graduating in 1988. She later attended prestigious fine arts academy Julliard School, graduating in 1993.Ā In 2001, she won the Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for her portrayal of Tonya in King Hedley II. She then moved on to roles in film, getting her first Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in 2009’s Doubt. Ā She earned her second Oscar nomination — this time as Lead Actress — in 2011 for The Help, narrowly losing to Meryl Streep.Ā In addition to her film work, she has played Prof. Annalise Keating on ABC’s legal dramaĀ How To Get Away With Murder since 2014. She became the first African-American actress to win a Prime Time Emmy in the Lead Actress category for the role in 2015. On Jan. 8, 2017, she won a Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture for Fences opposite Denzel Washington. Proving her versatility, she also had a key role in 2016’s DC Comics’ action flick Suicide Squad. On February 26, 2017, Viola won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Fences.

Best Known For:
Viola Davis is best known for being an award-winning American actress.

Personal Life:
Viola was born in her grandparents’ house on the Singleton Plantation in St. Matthews, SC, the second youngest of six children. Her father Dan was a horse trainer and her mother Mary AliceĀ was a mai and factory worker. The family minus the two oldest children moved to Rhode Island when Viola was a child, and she has described how she grew up in “abject poverty.” ViolaĀ has been married to actorĀ Julius Tennon sinceĀ June 2003, and they have an adopted daughter Genesis, born in 2011.

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Latest Viola Davis

Interview

Lupita Nyong’o Reveals She Learned Of Chadwick Boseman’s Death In Text From Viola Davis

Lupita said she knew Chadwick was sick, but she had no idea he had a years-long battle with colon cancer. Until Viola texted.

October 19, 2022
Viola Davis
Watch

Viola Davis Trains For War In Epic ‘The Woman King’ Trailer: Watch

In ‘The Woman King’, Viola Davis transforms into the leader of a group of female African warriors who face off against colonists to protect theĀ Kingdom of Dahomey.

July 6, 2022
Viola Davis, O-T Fagbenele
Find Out

Viola Davis As Michelle Obama: Photos & How She Prepared To Play ‘The First Lady’

Playing Michelle Obama was a big role for Viola Davis. Here we breakdown what the Oscar-winning actress has said about becoming ‘The First Lady.’

April 21, 2022
Find Out

Viola Davis’ Daughter Genesis: Everything To Know About Their Relationship

Viola Davis is the proud mother of her adorable 11-year-old daughter Genesis, whom she’s brought with her to various events over the years. Find out more about the sweet gal and her close relationship with her mom here.

April 19, 2022
Viola Davis
Breaking News

Viola Davis Transforms Into Michelle Obama In The Epic ‘First Lady’ Trailer — Watch

Viola Davis does an incredible transformation into former First Lady Michelle Obama for the new series ‘The First Lady.’ Viola stars alongside Gillian Anderson and Michelle Pfieffer, who play Eleanor Roosevelt and Betty Ford.

February 17, 2022
viola davis and tina knowles
Tweets

BeyoncĆ©’s Mom, Viola Davis & More Stars React To Derek Chauvin’s ‘Disappointing’ Sentence

Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in jail for the death of George Floyd — and stars are weighing in.

June 25, 2021
carey mulligan
Gallery

Carey Mulligan, Viola Davis, Andra Day & More Best Dressed Celebrities At the 2021 Oscars

The moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived – the 2021 Oscars & some of our favorite celebrities looked fabulous on the red carpet!

April 25, 2021
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