Viola Davis pictured with her award — winner of the Actress in a Supporting Role category for her work in ‘Fences’ — at the 89th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, CA on February 26, 2017.

Viola Davis, born on August 11, 1965 in South Carolina, is an award-winning American actress and producer. She’s best known for her lead role as lawyer, Annalise Keating in the ABC drama, How To Get Away With Murder. In 2015, Viola became the first black woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in HTGAWM. She’s also won an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and two Tony Awards. Other notable films Viola’s starred in include: Fences (2016; for which she won a Tony), The Help (2011), Suicide Squad (2016), and Widows (2018). In 2002, Viola married actor Julius Tennon, and in 2011 the couple adopted an infant daughter. Viola is also stepmother to Tennon’s son and daughter from previous relationships. Viola and her husband are founders of the production company, JuVee Productions — which helps young Black actors and actresses throughout different stages of their careers.