Viola Davis is an American actress and producer, widely regarded as one of the greatest dramatic performers of her generation. Known for her emotional depth, commanding presence, and uncompromising portrayals of complex women, she has achieved rare critical and industry recognition across film, television, and theater.

Viola Davis was born on August 11, 1965, in St. Matthews, South Carolina. Her father, Dan Davis, and her mother, Mary Alice Davis, raised her under difficult socioeconomic conditions. She attended Central Falls High School before pursuing higher education in theater. In 1988, she graduated from Rhode Island College, where she studied drama, and later continued her professional training at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York, graduating in 1993.

Shortly after completing her formal education, Viola Davis began establishing herself in the New York theater scene. In 1996, she made her Broadway debut in August Wilson’s tragic comedy Seven Guitars, a performance that marked the beginning of her long association with Wilson’s work and cemented her reputation as a formidable stage actress.

Her early film career consisted largely of supporting roles, but her talent quickly became impossible to ignore. In 2002, she appeared in Solaris, produced by James Cameron and directed by Steven Soderbergh, alongside George Clooney and Natascha McElhone. That same year, she appeared in Antwone Fisher, directed by Denzel Washington.

Viola Davis married actor Julius Tennon on June 23, 2003. The couple later adopted a daughter, Genesis Tennon (born 2011). Davis lives in Los Angeles with her family.

A major turning point in her career came with The Help (2011), in which she starred opposite Emma Stone and portrayed Aibileen Clark. The role brought her widespread acclaim and marked a decisive breakthrough after nearly three decades of professional work. Her performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2012.

In 2014, Viola Davis achieved historic success on television with her lead role as Annalise Keating in the legal drama series How to Get Away with Murder. Her performance earned her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2015, making her the first Black woman to win the award in that category.

Her most celebrated film performance came in Fences (2016), directed by Denzel Washington and adapted from August Wilson’s play. Portraying Rose Maxson, Davis delivered a performance of extraordinary emotional intensity. For this role, she won the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2017.

Viola Davis has since continued to balance film and television work, often portraying authoritative, morally complex characters. She has also expanded her career as a producer, contributing to projects that center underrepresented voices in cinema.

Awards:
2017 – Golden Globe Awards – Best Supporting Actress (Fences)
2017 – BAFTA Awards – Best Supporting Actress (Fences)
2015 – Primetime Emmy Awards – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (How to Get Away with Murder)
2012 – Academy Awards – Best Supporting Actress (The Help)

Filmography – Producer
2015 – Lila & Eve

Filmography – Actor
1996 – The Substance of Fire
1998 – Out of Sight
1998 – The Pentagon Wars (TV Film)
2000 – Traffic
2001 – Kate & Leopold
2002 – Solaris
2002 – Antwone Fisher
2002 – Far from Heaven
2003–2008 – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)
2005 – Get Rich or Die Tryin’
2005 – Syriana
2006 – Architect
2007 – Disturbia
2008 – Doubt
2009 – State of Play
2010 – Eat Pray Love
2010 – Trust
2011 – Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
2011 – The Help
2013 – Prisoners
2014 – Get on Up
2014–2017 – How to Get Away with Murder (TV Series)
2015 – Blackhat
2016 – Fences
2016 – Suicide Squad
2018 – Widows

Source: Biyografiler.com