Viola Davis’ life story is remarkable. Celebrate the icon’s 58th birthday with photos of her amazing journey from unknown to superstar.
1 of 21
Viola Davis: Then & Now
![Viola Davis: Then & Now](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-intro.jpg?w=680)
2 of 21
Viola Davis At The 2001 Tonys
![Viola Davis At The 2001 Tonys](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-08.jpg?w=680)
3 of 21
Viola Davis In 2005
![Viola Davis In 2005](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-03.jpg?w=680)
4 of 21
Viola Davis, 2006
![Viola Davis, 2006](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-17.jpg?w=680)
5 of 21
Viola Davis, 2008
![Viola Davis, 2008](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-11.jpg?w=680)
6 of 21
Viola Davis At The Premiere Of ‘Nights in Rodanthe’
![Viola Davis At The Premiere Of ‘Nights in Rodanthe’](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-18.jpg?w=680)
7 of 21
Viola Davis & Amy Adams At The Premiere Of ‘Doubt’
![Viola Davis & Amy Adams At The Premiere Of ‘Doubt’](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-13.jpg?w=680)
8 of 21
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’](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-12.jpg?w=680)
9 of 21
Viola Davis At The 2009 Critics Choice Awards
![Viola Davis At The 2009 Critics Choice Awards](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-10.jpg?w=680)
10 of 21
Viola Davis & Emma Stone in ‘The Help’
![Viola Davis & Emma Stone in ‘The Help’](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-16.jpg?w=680)
11 of 21
Viola Davis At Santa Barbara Film Festival
![Viola Davis At Santa Barbara Film Festival](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-09.jpg?w=680)
12 of 21
Viola Davis & Octavia Spencer At The 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards
![Viola Davis & Octavia Spencer At The 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-14.jpg?w=680)
13 of 21
Viola Davis At The 2015 Golden Globes
![Viola Davis At The 2015 Golden Globes](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-15.jpg?w=680)
14 of 21
Viola Davis Gets Her Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
![Viola Davis Gets Her Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-07.jpg?w=680)
15 of 21
Viola Davis At The 2019 British Academy Film Awards
![Viola Davis At The 2019 British Academy Film Awards](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-06.jpg?w=680)
16 of 21
Allison Janney, Mckenna Grace & Viola Davis In 2020
![Allison Janney, Mckenna Grace & Viola Davis In 2020](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-05.jpg?w=680)
17 of 21
Viola Davis At The 2021 Academy Awards
![Viola Davis At The 2021 Academy Awards](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-04.jpg?w=680)
18 of 21
Viola Davis At The Premiere Of ‘The First Lady’
![Viola Davis At The Premiere Of ‘The First Lady’](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-02.jpg?w=680)
19 of 21
Viola Davis At The 2022 Cannes Film Festival
![Viola Davis At The 2022 Cannes Film Festival](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-then-now-ss-01.jpg?w=680)
20 of 21
Viola Davis at the 2023 Met Gala
![Viola Davis at the 2023 Met Gala](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Viola-Davis-met-gala-2023.jpg?w=680)
21 of 21
Viola Davis at the 76th Cannes Film Festival
![Viola Davis at the 76th Cannes Film Festival](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/viola-davis-cannes-filmes-festival-2023-ss.jpg?w=680)