Viola Davis (born August 11, 1965) is an American actress.
Beginning her career on the stage, Davis won a Tony and a Drama Desk Award for her role in King Hedley II (2001). She won a second Drama Desk Award for Intimate Apparel (2004). She won a second Tony and a third Drama Desk Award for her role in Fences (2010).[1]
Some of her notable films include Traffic (2000), Antwone Fisher (2002), Solaris (2002) and The Help (2011). Her eleven-minute-long performance in the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's Doubt (2008) earned several honors, including an Academy Award nomination. Her role in the film The Help has garnered two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a BAFTA Award nomination, another Academy Award nomination, and a Golden Globe nomination.[2] In addition to her success, she was listed in Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2012.[3]
Davis partially credits her love of stage acting with her involvement in the arts at her alma mater, Central Falls High School.[11] Davis majored in theatre at Rhode Island College, graduating in 1988; in 2002 she received an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from the college.[12] She was involved in the federal TRIO Upward Bound and TRIO Student Support Services programs.[13] While Davis was a teenager, her talent was recognized by Bernard Masterson when, as director of Young People's School for the Performing Arts in West Warwick, Rhode Island, he awarded Davis a scholarship into that program.[14]
She also attended the Juilliard School for four years,[7] as a member of the Drama Division's Group 22 (1989–1993).[15]
Davis appeared in numerous films, including three films directed by Steven Soderbergh - Out of Sight, Solaris and Traffic, as well as Syriana, which Soderbergh produced. Viola was also the uncredited voice of the parole board interrogator who questions Danny Ocean (George Clooney) in the first scene in Ocean's Eleven.[17] She also gave brief performances in the films Kate & Leopold and Antwone Fisher. Her television work includes a recurring role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; starring roles in two short-lived series, Traveler and Century City; and a special guest appearance in "Badge", a Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode.
In 2008, Davis played Mrs. Miller in the film adaption to the Broadway play, Doubt with Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. She was nominated for several awards for this performance, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award.[18]
On June 30, 2009, Davis was inducted into The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[19]
On June 13, 2010, Davis won her second Tony Award for her role as Rose Maxson in a revival of August Wilson's Fences.[20] She is the second African-American woman to win the award, after Phylicia Rashād.
Davis played the role of Dr. Minerva in It's Kind of a Funny Story, a coming-of-age film written and directed by Anna Boden with Ryan Fleck, adapted from the 2006 novel by Ned Vizzini.[21]
In August 2011, Davis played the role of Aibileen Clark in the screen adaptation of the novel The Help, directed by Tate Taylor. For her performance, Davis garnered numerous award nominations, including a Golden Globe Award, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild,[2] and an Academy Award
In 2012, Time Magazine listed Davis as one of the most influential people in the world.[22]Also in 2012, Glamour Magazine named Davis Glamour's Film Actress of the year.[23]
On June 12, 2012, Davis was presented with the Women in Film's Crystal Award by her friend and Oscar rival that year Meryl Streep.[24]
On June 25, 2012, The Walk of Fame Committee of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced that Davis was part of the new group of entertainment professionals who have been selected to receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.[25]
Beginning her career on the stage, Davis won a Tony and a Drama Desk Award for her role in King Hedley II (2001). She won a second Drama Desk Award for Intimate Apparel (2004). She won a second Tony and a third Drama Desk Award for her role in Fences (2010).[1]
Some of her notable films include Traffic (2000), Antwone Fisher (2002), Solaris (2002) and The Help (2011). Her eleven-minute-long performance in the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's Doubt (2008) earned several honors, including an Academy Award nomination. Her role in the film The Help has garnered two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a BAFTA Award nomination, another Academy Award nomination, and a Golden Globe nomination.[2] In addition to her success, she was listed in Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2012.[3]
Early life
Davis was born on her grandmother's farm, at the former Singleton Plantation, in St. Matthews, South Carolina.[4] She is the second youngest of six children.[5] Her mother, Mary Alice, was a maid, factory worker, and homemaker, and her father, Dan Davis, was a horse trainer.[6][7][8] Her family moved to Central Falls, Rhode Island a few months after she was born.[9] Davis has described herself as having "lived in abject poverty and dysfunction" during her childhood.[10]Davis partially credits her love of stage acting with her involvement in the arts at her alma mater, Central Falls High School.[11] Davis majored in theatre at Rhode Island College, graduating in 1988; in 2002 she received an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from the college.[12] She was involved in the federal TRIO Upward Bound and TRIO Student Support Services programs.[13] While Davis was a teenager, her talent was recognized by Bernard Masterson when, as director of Young People's School for the Performing Arts in West Warwick, Rhode Island, he awarded Davis a scholarship into that program.[14]
She also attended the Juilliard School for four years,[7] as a member of the Drama Division's Group 22 (1989–1993).[15]
Career
In 2001, she won the Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for her portrayal of Tonya in King Hedley II, a "35-year-old mother fighting eloquently for the right to abort a pregnancy."[16] She has also won another Drama Desk Award for her work in a 2004 off-Broadway production of Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage.Davis appeared in numerous films, including three films directed by Steven Soderbergh - Out of Sight, Solaris and Traffic, as well as Syriana, which Soderbergh produced. Viola was also the uncredited voice of the parole board interrogator who questions Danny Ocean (George Clooney) in the first scene in Ocean's Eleven.[17] She also gave brief performances in the films Kate & Leopold and Antwone Fisher. Her television work includes a recurring role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; starring roles in two short-lived series, Traveler and Century City; and a special guest appearance in "Badge", a Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode.
In 2008, Davis played Mrs. Miller in the film adaption to the Broadway play, Doubt with Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. She was nominated for several awards for this performance, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award.[18]
On June 30, 2009, Davis was inducted into The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[19]
On June 13, 2010, Davis won her second Tony Award for her role as Rose Maxson in a revival of August Wilson's Fences.[20] She is the second African-American woman to win the award, after Phylicia Rashād.
Davis played the role of Dr. Minerva in It's Kind of a Funny Story, a coming-of-age film written and directed by Anna Boden with Ryan Fleck, adapted from the 2006 novel by Ned Vizzini.[21]
In August 2011, Davis played the role of Aibileen Clark in the screen adaptation of the novel The Help, directed by Tate Taylor. For her performance, Davis garnered numerous award nominations, including a Golden Globe Award, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild,[2] and an Academy Award
In 2012, Time Magazine listed Davis as one of the most influential people in the world.[22]Also in 2012, Glamour Magazine named Davis Glamour's Film Actress of the year.[23]
On June 12, 2012, Davis was presented with the Women in Film's Crystal Award by her friend and Oscar rival that year Meryl Streep.[24]
On June 25, 2012, The Walk of Fame Committee of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced that Davis was part of the new group of entertainment professionals who have been selected to receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.[25]
Personal life
Davis has been married to actor Julius Tennon since June 2003. They have a daughter, Genesis, whom they adopted as a newborn in October 2011. Davis is stepmother to Tennon's two sons from previous relationships.[26]Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | NYPD Blue | Woman | Episode: "Moby Greg" |
1996 | New York Undercover | Mrs. Stapleton | Episode: "Smack is Back" |
1998 | The Pentagon Wars | Platoon Sgt. Fanning | |
1998 | Grace & Glorie | Rosemary Allbright | |
2000 | Judging Amy | Celeste | Episode: "Blast from the Past" |
2000 | City of Angels | Nurse Lynnette Peeler | 19 episodes |
2001 | Amy & Isabelle | Dottie | |
2001 | Providence | Dr. Eleanor Weiss | Episode: "You Can Count On Me" |
2001 | The Guardian | Episode: "The Men from the Boys" | |
2001 | Third Watch | Margo Rodriguez | Episode: "Act Brave" |
2002 | Father Lefty | ||
2002 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Terry Randolph | Episode: "Badge" |
2002 | The Division | Dr. Georgia Davis | Episode: "Remembrance" |
2002 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Attorney Campbell | Episode: "The Execution of Catherine Willows" |
2003 | Hack | Stevie Morgan | Episode: "Third Strike" |
2003 | The Practice | Aisha Crenshaw | Episode: "We the People" |
2004 | Century City | Hannah Crane | 9 episodes |
2005 | Jesse Stone: Stone Cold | Molly Crane | |
2005 | Threshold | Victoria Rossi | Episode: "Shock" |
2006 | Jesse Stone: Night Passage | Molly Crane | |
2006 | Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise | Molly Crane | |
2006 | Without a Trace | Audrey Williams | Episode: "White Balance" |
2006 | Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story | Diane Barrino | |
2007 | Fort Pit | ||
2007 | Jesse Stone: Sea Change | Molly Crane | |
2007 | Traveler | Agent Jan Marlow | 8 episodes |
2008 | Brothers & Sisters | Ellen Snyder | Episode: "Double Negative" |
2008 | The Andromeda Strain | Dr. Charlene Barton | |
2003–08 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Donna Emmett | 7 episodes from 2003 until 2008 |
2009 | United States of Tara | Lynda P Frazier | Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series |
Theatre credits
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Seven Guitars | Vera | Broadway Mar 28, 1996 - Sep 8, 1996 Theatre World Award Nominated — Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Nominated — Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play |
1997 | God's Heart | Eleanor | Off Broadway |
1998 | Pericles | 2nd Fisherman/Lychorida/Bawd | Off Broadway |
1999 | Everybody's Ruby | Ruby McCollum | Off Broadway Nominated — Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play |
The Vagina Monologues | Performer (Replacement) | Off Broadway | |
2001 | King Hedley II | Tonya | Broadway May 1, 2001 - Jul 1, 2001 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play |
2004 | Intimate Apparel | Esther | Off Broadway Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play Nominated —Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress |
2010 | Fences | Rose | Broadway Revival Apr 26, 2010 - Jul 11, 2010 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play |
louis vuitton outlet stores, louis vuitton, prada handbags, louboutin, longchamp outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, louis vuitton outlet, kate spade outlet, ray ban sunglasses, louboutin shoes, oakley sunglasses, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton outlet, michael kors outlet, kate spade handbags, coach outlet store online, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton handbags, burberry outlet, burberry outlet, oakley sunglasses, michael kors outlet, nike shoes, polo ralph lauren outlet, coach purses, oakley sunglasses cheap, jordan shoes, tiffany and co, air max, coach factory outlet, air max, chanel handbags, gucci outlet, michael kors outlet, tory burch outlet, coach outlet, nike free, christian louboutin shoes, tiffany and co, ray ban sunglasses, louboutin outlet, michael kors outlet, longchamp handbags, prada outlet, longchamp handbags
ReplyDeletemichael kors pas cher, nike roshe run, polo ralph lauren, michael kors, nike free pas cher, hollister, louis vuitton, air force, sac burberry, mulberry, nike roshe, ralph lauren, oakley pas cher, nike blazer, sac guess, abercrombie and fitch, longchamp, mac cosmetics, nike trainers, vans pas cher, ray ban pas cher, lululemon, hogan outlet, new balance pas cher, michael kors, timberland, sac longchamp, nike roshe run, sac hermes, air max, nike air max, north face, nike huarache, barbour, ray ban sunglasses, nike free, vans shoes, north face, louboutin, hollister, hollister, sac louis vuitton, nike tn, converse pas cher, sac louis vuitton, vanessa bruno, louis vuitton uk, air jordan, longchamp, polo lacoste
ReplyDeleteugg boots, babyliss pro, herve leger, bottega veneta, jimmy choo outlet, soccer shoes, nfl jerseys, rolex watches, iphone 6 cases, ghd, ugg pas cher, canada goose, asics running shoes, beats by dre, instyler, celine handbags, baseball bats, ferragamo shoes, ugg boots, abercrombie and fitch, ugg australia, lululemon outlet, north face outlet, mcm handbags, soccer jerseys, north face jackets, mont blanc, hollister clothing store, moncler, canada goose, birkin bag, marc jacobs, canada goose outlet, new balance shoes, ugg, p90x, canada goose, moncler outlet, uggs outlet, moncler, valentino shoes, chi flat iron, moncler, insanity workout, reebok outlet, wedding dresses, giuseppe zanotti, canada goose jackets, canada goose uk, air max
ReplyDelete