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Viola Davis

Viola Davis

Known for: Acting

Born 11/08/1965
Place of birth St. Matthews, South Carolina, USA

Viola Davis (/vaɪˈoʊlə/ vy-OH-lə; born August 11, 1965) is an American actress and film producer. Her accolades include both the Triple Crown of Acting and EGOT. Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2012 and 2017. The New York Times ranked her ninth on its list of the greatest actors of the 21st century (2020). Davis received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2025. A graduate of Juilliard, Davis began her career in Central Falls, Rhode Island, appearing in small stage productions. She made her Broadway debut in the August Wilson play Seven Guitars (1996) for which she earned her first Tony nomination. She would later win two Tony Awards, both for Wilson plays. Her first win was for Best Featured Actress in a Play playing the titular character Tonya, a woman grappling with trauma and loss in King Hedley II (2001), followed by her second win for Best Actress in a Play playing Rose Maxson, a working class mother in Fences (2010). She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for reprising her role in the 2016 film adaptation of Fences. She was Oscar-nominated for playing a complex mother in Doubt (2008), a 1960s housemaid in The Help (2011) and Ma Rainey in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020). On television, she became the first black actress to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as lawyer Annalise Keating in the ABC legal drama series How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020). Davis joined the DCEU playing Amanda Waller starting with Suicide Squad (2016). She has also starred in the crime drama Widows(2018), and historical action film The Woman King (2022). Davis and her husband are founders of the production company JuVee Productions, and she is also widely recognized for her advocacy and support for human rights and women of color. She became a L'Oréal Paris ambassador in 2019. The audiobook narration of her 2022 memoir Finding Me won her the Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording. Description above from the Wikipedia article Viola Davis, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Filmography

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Series ★ 7,9

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Donna Emmett

1999

The Simpsons Series ★ 8,0

The Simpsons

Narrator (voice)

1989

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Series ★ 5,0

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Self - Guest

2009

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Series ★ 7,6

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Attorney Campbell

2000

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Series ★ 6,1

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Self

2015

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Series ★ 6,1

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Self - Guest

2015

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Series ★ 5,8

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Self

2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Series ★ 5,8

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Self - Guest

2014

Late Night with Seth Meyers Series ★ 5,2

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Self - Guest

2014

The Graham Norton Show Series ★ 7,2

The Graham Norton Show

Self

2007

The Kelly Clarkson Show Series ★ 6,4

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Self

2019

Law & Order: Criminal Intent Series ★ 7,6

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Terry Randolph

2001

The Jennifer Hudson Show Series ★ 5,6

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Self

2022

Without a Trace Series ★ 7,3

Without a Trace

Audrey Williams

2002

The View Series ★ 4,4

The View

Self - Guest

1997

The View Series ★ 4,4

The View

Self

1997

Hot Ones Series ★ 7,1

Hot Ones

Self

2015

Golden Globe Awards Series ★ 7,2

Golden Globe Awards

Self - Presenter

1944

Golden Globe Awards Series ★ 7,2

Golden Globe Awards

Self - Nominee

1944

The Practice Series ★ 7,7

The Practice

Aisha Crenshaw

1997

How to Get Away with Murder Series ★ 7,8

How to Get Away with Murder

Annalise Keating

2014

60 Minutes Series ★ 6,6

60 Minutes

Self

1968

Jimmy Kimmel Live! Series ★ 5,4

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Self

2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live! Series ★ 5,4

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Self - Guest

2003

NYPD Blue Series ★ 7,1

NYPD Blue

Woman

1993

Tony Awards Series

Tony Awards

Self - Presenter

1956

Third Watch Series ★ 7,9

Third Watch

Margo Rodriguez

1999

Scandal Series ★ 7,2

Scandal

Annalise Keating

2012

Peacemaker Series ★ 8,2

Peacemaker

Amanda Waller (uncredited)

2022

CBS News Sunday Morning Series ★ 7,0

CBS News Sunday Morning

Self

1979

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Series ★ 5,6

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Self

2003

Judging Amy Series ★ 7,5

Judging Amy

Celeste

1999

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Series ★ 5,4

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Self - Guest

1992

Brothers and Sisters Series ★ 7,1

Brothers and Sisters

Ellen Snyder

2006

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors Series ★ 4,5

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

Self

2014

The Division Series ★ 7,1

The Division

Dr. Georgia Davis

2001

The Guardian Series ★ 7,0

The Guardian

Suzanna Clemons' Attorney

2001

Kung Fu Panda 4 Film ★ 7,0

Kung Fu Panda 4

The Chameleon (voice)

2024

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter Series ★ 6,2

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

Self

2015

Providence Series ★ 6,7

Providence

Dr. Eleanor Weiss

1999

Sofia the First Series ★ 7,2

Sofia the First

Helen Hanshaw (voice)

2013

The Suicide Squad Film ★ 7,5

The Suicide Squad

Amanda Waller

2021

The Oscars Series ★ 7,0

The Oscars

Self

1953

Black Adam Film ★ 6,8

Black Adam

Amanda Waller (uncredited)

2022

Hack Series ★ 7,9

Hack

Stevie Morgan

2002

Ocean's Eleven Film ★ 7,5

Ocean's Eleven

Parole Board Interrogator (voice) (uncredited)

2001

Prisoners Film ★ 8,1

Prisoners

Nancy Birch

2013

The Help Film ★ 8,2

The Help

Aibileen Clark

2011

Creature Commandos Series ★ 7,8

Creature Commandos

Amanda Waller (voice)

2024

Hot Ones Versus Series ★ 8,8

Hot Ones Versus

Self

2024

United States of Tara Series ★ 7,0

United States of Tara

2009

Suicide Squad Film ★ 5,9

Suicide Squad

Amanda Waller

2016

Live from E! Series ★ 3,7

Live from E!

Self

2002

Celebrity IOU Series ★ 6,6

Celebrity IOU

Self

2020

C ce soir, le débat Series ★ 2,0

C ce soir, le débat

Self - Guest

2021

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Film ★ 7,0

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

Dr. Volumnia Gaul

2023

Number One on the Call Sheet Series ★ 3,6

Number One on the Call Sheet

Self

2025

Eat Pray Love Film ★ 6,2

Eat Pray Love

Delia Shiraz

2010

Law Abiding Citizen Film ★ 7,4

Law Abiding Citizen

Mayor April Henry

2009

Air Film ★ 7,3

Air

Deloris Jordan

2023

G20 Film ★ 6,4

G20

President Danielle Sutton

2025

Threshold Series ★ 7,0

Threshold

2005

The Woman King Film ★ 7,6

The Woman King

Nanisca

2022

Knight and Day Film ★ 6,2

Knight and Day

CIA Director Isabel George

2010

Trust Film ★ 6,5

Trust

Gail Friedman

2010

The First Lady Series ★ 5,8

The First Lady

Michelle Obama

2022

Fences Film ★ 6,9

Fences

Rose Maxson

2016

Dear... Series ★ 5,0

Dear...

Self

2020

The Andromeda Strain Series ★ 6,2

The Andromeda Strain

Dr. Charlene Barton

2008

The Unforgivable Film ★ 7,4

The Unforgivable

Liz Ingram

2021

Disturbia Film ★ 6,7

Disturbia

Detective Parker

2007

Blackhat Film ★ 5,5

Blackhat

Carol Barrett

2015

Beautiful Creatures Film ★ 6,0

Beautiful Creatures

Amma Treadeau

2013

Traffic Film ★ 7,1

Traffic

Social Worker

2000

Doubt Film ★ 7,2

Doubt

Mrs. Miller

2008

City of Angels Series ★ 9,0

City of Angels

Lynnette Peeler

2000

The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA Series ★ 6,7

The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA

Self

1995

State of Play Film ★ 6,8

State of Play

Dr. Judith Franklin

2009

Ender's Game Film ★ 6,6

Ender's Game

Major Gwen Anderson

2013

Century City Series ★ 6,0

Century City

Hannah Crane

2004

Widows Film ★ 6,5

Widows

Veronica Rawlings

2018

Hollywood Black Series ★ 9,0

Hollywood Black

Self (archive footage)

2024

Traveler Series ★ 6,6

Traveler

Agent Jan Marlow

2007

Hallmark Hall of Fame Series ★ 8,8

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Rosemary Allbright

1951

Kate & Leopold Film ★ 6,3

Kate & Leopold

Policewoman

2001

Out of Sight Film ★ 6,7

Out of Sight

Moselle

1998

Syriana Film ★ 6,4

Syriana

CIA Chairwoman

2005

Get Rich or Die Tryin' Film ★ 6,8

Get Rich or Die Tryin'

Grandma

2005

World Trade Center Film ★ 6,1

World Trade Center

Mother in Hospital

2006

Solaris Film ★ 6,0

Solaris

Gordon

2002

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Film ★ 7,0

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Abby Black

2011

Far from Heaven Film ★ 7,1

Far from Heaven

Sybil

2002

Madea Goes to Jail Film ★ 6,5

Madea Goes to Jail

Ellen

2009

Get On Up Film ★ 6,8

Get On Up

Susie Brown

2014

Antwone Fisher Film ★ 6,9

Antwone Fisher

Eva May

2002

Stone Cold Film ★ 6,8

Stone Cold

Molly Crane

2005

It's Kind of a Funny Story Film ★ 6,9

It's Kind of a Funny Story

Dr. Eden Minerva

2010

Beyond Boundaries: The Harvey Weinstein Scandal Film ★ 5,4

Beyond Boundaries: The Harvey Weinstein Scandal

Self (archive footage)

2018

Troop Zero Film ★ 7,0

Troop Zero

Miss Rayleen

2019

Nights in Rodanthe Film ★ 6,2

Nights in Rodanthe

Jean

2008

Lila & Eve Film ★ 6,1

Lila & Eve

Lila Walcott

2015

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her Film ★ 6,7

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her

Professor Lillian Friedman

2014

Won't Back Down Film ★ 6,1

Won't Back Down

Nona Alberts

2012

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Film ★ 6,6

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Ma Rainey

2020

Love, Marilyn Film ★ 6,6

Love, Marilyn

Self

2013

Jesse Stone: Sea Change Film ★ 7,0

Jesse Stone: Sea Change

Molly Crane

2007

Jesse Stone: Night Passage Film ★ 6,9

Jesse Stone: Night Passage

Officer Molly Crane

2006

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" Film ★ 6,1

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"

Florida Evans

2019

Children of Blood and Bone Film

Children of Blood and Bone

Mama Agba

2027

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them Film ★ 6,2

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them

Professor Lillian Friedman

2014

Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise Film ★ 6,9

Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise

Molly Crane

2006

Beyond All Boundaries Film ★ 6,8

Beyond All Boundaries

Hortense Johnson

2009

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him Film ★ 6,7

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him

Professor Lillian Friedman

2014

Custody Film ★ 6,9

Custody

Martha Schulman

2016

The Pentagon Wars Film ★ 6,9

The Pentagon Wars

Sgt. Fanning

1998

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays Film

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

Tonya (segment "King Hedley II")

2006

Grace & Glorie Film ★ 6,3

Grace & Glorie

Rosemary Allbright

1998

On Broadway Film ★ 8,7

On Broadway

Self (archive footage)

2019

The Architect Film ★ 5,6

The Architect

Tonya Neely

2006

Giving Voice Film ★ 6,4

Giving Voice

Self

2020

Predator or Prey: Making The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Film ★ 7,5

Predator or Prey: Making The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

Self (Dr. Volumnia Gaul)

2024

The Substance of Fire Film ★ 6,4

The Substance of Fire

Nurse

1996

Doubt: Stage to Screen Film ★ 6,5

Doubt: Stage to Screen

Self

2009

The Shrink Is In Film ★ 4,9

The Shrink Is In

Robin

2001

The Grammys Series ★ 8,6

The Grammys

Self

1959

W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause Film ★ 9,0

W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause

Narrator (voice)

2026

Amy & Isabelle Film ★ 5,6

Amy & Isabelle

Dottie

2001

Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story Film ★ 6,2

Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story

Diane Barrino

2006

August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand Film

August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand

Self

2015

Operation Othello Film

Operation Othello

Narrator

2019

Film

Ally Clark

Ally Clark

Film

Small Great Things

Film

I Almost Forgot About You

Dr. Georgia Young

Film

The Personal History of Rachel DuPree

Rachel Dupree

The Ebony Canal: A Story of Black Infant Mortality Film

The Ebony Canal: A Story of Black Infant Mortality

Narration

2025

Film

House of Games

Film

Two Butterflies

A Touch of Sugar Film

A Touch of Sugar

Narrator

2019

Film

Miss Apprehension and Squirt

Sharon Hughes

1998

Food 2050 Film

Food 2050

Self - Narrator (voice)

2022

Oprah + Viola: A Netflix Special Event Film ★ 6,8

Oprah + Viola: A Netflix Special Event

Self

2022