Viola Davis Then & Now: Photos Of The Oscar-Winner From Her Young Days To Now

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August 11, 2023 12:30PM EDT

Viola Davis’ life story is remarkable. Celebrate the icon’s 58th birthday with photos of her amazing journey from unknown to superstar.

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Viola Davis: Then & Now

Viola Davis: Then & Now — Viola Davis is one of the most talented actresses of her generation, lauded by peers, critics, and fans alike. The actress was born August 11, 1965, and endured years of poverty as a child. She began in local theater in Rhode Island and went on to hone her talents at the Julliard School. Her big break came in 2008 with the movie ‘Doubt’, which earned Viola her first Oscar nod.

She followed with roles in ‘The Help’ and August Wilson’s ‘Fences’, both on Broadway and in the 2016 film version directed by Denzel Washington. In 2014 Viola stepped into the world of primetime TV as the star of Shonda Rhimes’ ‘How To Get Away With Murder’, which she starred on for six seasons until 2020. She is the only Black woman to earn the ‘Triple Crown’ of acting, snagging an Oscar, Emmy, and two Tonys.

Viola Davis’ acting journey is truly amazing. See how far she’s come since her early acting days here.

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Viola Davis At The 2001 Tonys

Viola Davis At The 2001 Tonys — Viola Davis is overwhelmed with emotion as she accepts her first Tony at the 55th annual awards. She earned her trophy for her work in ‘King Hedley II’.

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Viola Davis In 2005

Viola Davis In 2005 — Viola Davis is very mid-2000s during the premiere of ‘Get Rich Or Die Trying’ in LA on Nov. 2, 2005. She wore pinstriped pants and a stretchy red top with matching shoes.

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Viola Davis, 2006

Viola Davis, 2006 — Viola Davis is pictured in the 2006 film, ‘The Architect’. The film, which also starred Isabella Rossellini and Anthony LaPaglia, was about a conflict between an architect and an activist who lives in a dangerous complex the architect designed.

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Viola Davis, 2008

Viola Davis, 2008 — Viola Davis shook audiences with her role as the troubled mother of a catholic school student in 2008’s ‘Doubt’. The film also starred Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

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Viola Davis At The Premiere Of ‘Nights in Rodanthe’

Viola Davis At The Premiere Of ‘Nights in Rodanthe’ — Viola Davis shines at the premiere of ‘Nights in Rodanthe’ on Sep. 23, 2008. Her gold halter dress and glam curls looked great.

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Viola Davis & Amy Adams At The Premiere Of ‘Doubt’

Viola Davis & Amy Adams At The Premiere Of ‘Doubt’ — Viola Davis and Amy Adams both glow after the premiere of their movie ‘Doubt’ on Dec. 7, 2008. Viola wore yellow-gold silk and Amy was in a strapless red look.

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Viola Davis & Sandra Bullock At The Premiere Of ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’

Viola Davis & Sandra Bullock At The Premiere Of ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’ — Viola Davis and Sandra Bullock looks like buddies at the premiere of ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’ in New York on Dec. 15, 2011. Viola was a beacon of beauty in hot pink with a fringed bob. Sandy wore a silky black suit.

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Viola Davis At The 2009 Critics Choice Awards

Viola Davis At The 2009 Critics Choice Awards — Viola Davis accepts the Best Actress award on behalf of Meryl Streep at the 14th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards in 2009. Meryl won for ‘Doubt’ which Viola also starred in.

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Viola Davis & Emma Stone in ‘The Help’

Viola Davis & Emma Stone in ‘The Help’ — Emma Stone (left) shakes hands with Viola Davis (right) while Octavia Spencer’s character (middle) watches on in 2011’s ‘The Help’. Though Viola was praised for the film, she later looked back on the experience saying she ‘regretted’ the role. ‘I just felt that at the end of the day that it wasn’t the voices of the maids that were heard,’ she admitted in the New York Times in. 2018.

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Viola Davis At Santa Barbara Film Festival

Viola Davis At Santa Barbara Film Festival — Viola Davis poses for a portrait during the Santa Barbara Film Festival. She wore a cream dress with beautiful embroidery. A canvas coat kept away the chill.

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Viola Davis & Octavia Spencer At The 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards

Viola Davis & Octavia Spencer At The 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards — Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis keep close at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2012. Octavia, who won for ‘The Help’, looked great in a grey-blue number.

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Viola Davis At The 2015 Golden Globes

Viola Davis At The 2015 Golden Globes — Viola Davis wows in a strapless red look during the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 11, 2015. Her gown had sparkles on the front and she wore her hair in a textured bob.

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Viola Davis Gets Her Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

Viola Davis Gets Her Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame — Star power! Viola Davis gets honored with star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on Jan. 5, 2017. SWell deserved!

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Viola Davis At The 2019 British Academy Film Awards

Viola Davis At The 2019 British Academy Film Awards — Viola Davis is classic in black and white during the 72nd British Academy Film Awards held at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Feb. 10, 2019. Her dress featured a big white bow up top with a black shell below.

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Allison Janney, Mckenna Grace & Viola Davis In 2020

Allison Janney, Mckenna Grace & Viola Davis In 2020 — Allison Janney, Mckenna Grace, and Viola Davis team up for the premiere of ‘Troop Zero’ on Jan. 13, 2020. They all looked great.

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Viola Davis At The 2021 Academy Awards

Viola Davis At The 2021 Academy Awards — Viola Davis dons white Alexander McQueen at the 93rd Annual Academy Awards on Apr. 25, 2011. The dress had an intricately laser-cut bodice and she wore her hair in a natural updo.

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Viola Davis At The Premiere Of ‘The First Lady’

Viola Davis At The Premiere Of ‘The First Lady’ — Viola Davis is elegant in orange during the premiere of ‘The First Lady’ on Apr. 14, 2022. She played Michelle Obama in the Showtime series.

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Viola Davis At The 2022 Cannes Film Festival

Viola Davis At The 2022 Cannes Film Festival — Viola Davis is pure fashion is red Alexander McQueen during the 75th Cannes Film Festival in France on May 19, 2022. She was there to host the Kering Women in Motion Talk.

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Viola Davis at the 2023 Met Gala

Viola Davis at the 2023 Met Gala — Viola Davis slayed in this hot pink feather dress at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Benefit, celebrating the opening of the Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty exhibition in NYC on May 1, 2023.

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Viola Davis at the 76th Cannes Film Festival

Viola Davis at the 76th Cannes Film Festival — Viola Davis rocked this one-shoulder white dress with a massive feather coat on top at the ‘Monster’ premiere during the 76th Cannes Film Festival in France on May 17, 2023.

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