August 11 …

Viola Davis is an acclaimed actress and producer whose work across stage, film, and television has reshaped opportunities and representation for Black women in entertainment.

Born August 11, 1965 in St. Matthews, SC and raised in Central Falls, RI, Davis was raised in extreme poverty. Those formative experiences — along with her encounters with racism — greatly shaped her artistic ambition. She earned a BA in theatre from Rhode Island College and completed her training at the Juilliard School’s Drama Division before embarking on her stage career, which began with regional and Off-Broadway productions. In 1996, she made her Broadway debut in “Seven Guitars.” by August Wilson.

Davis’s impressive stage career features two Tony Awards — Best Featured Actress in a Play for “King Hedley II” in 2001 and Best Actress in a Play for “Fences” in 2010. She has maintained a strong connection with the works of August Wilson throughout her career.

On the screen, Davis received Academy Award nominations for her roles in Doubt, The Help, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. She ultimately won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Fences in 2017.

On television, Davis made history as the first Black woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for How to Get Away with Murder in 2015. She completed her EGOT status in 2023 with a Grammy award for her audiobook work. Her accolades also include Golden Globe, SAG, Critics’ Choice awards, and the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and multiple appearances on Time’s 100 Most Influential People list.

Davis has acknowledged the influence of notable figures such as August Wilson — whose works provided her with breakthrough roles — as well as contemporaries like Denzel Washington (her co-star in and director os “Fences”), Meryl Streep, and Octavia Spencer. She has collaborated with creators such as Shonda Rhimes and directors like Steve McQueen.

Davis’s mentors include her Juilliard instructors and industry advocates who supported her theatrical and cinematic journey, with Denzel Washington frequently highlighted as a significant collaborator. August Wilson’s legacy is integral to her theatrical identity.

Through her production company, JuVee Productions, co-founded with her husband Julius Tennon, and her public advocacy, Davis actively mentors emerging Black writers, directors, and actors, helping to advance the careers of younger artists.

Beyond her numerous awards, Davis’s cultural impact stems from her steadfast advocacy for more nuanced roles for women of color, her public discussions on representation and pay equity in the industry, as well as her memoir, Finding Me, and philanthropic efforts.

The body of work and visibility of Viola Davis have expanded mainstream narratives surrounding Black womanhood, influencing casting and storytelling practices across American theater, film, and television. That has solidified her status as a historic figure in 21st-century entertainment.