Viola Davis is an American actress and producer widely praised for her powerful performances on stage and screen. She has achieved the rare EGOT status, which means she has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. Known for roles in Fences, The Help, How to Get Away with Murder and The Woman King, she is seen as one of the most important actors of her generation.
Who is Viola Davis?
Viola Davis is an American actress and film producer who has built a career playing complex, emotionally rich characters in film, television and theatre. She is often described as one of the greatest actors of the 21st century, with The New York Times ranking her ninth on its list of the 25 greatest actors in 2020. In addition, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world twice, in 2012 and 2017, recognising both her artistic work and her outspoken advocacy for racial and gender equality in Hollywood.
As an artist, she is known for precise, controlled performances and a strong screen presence that makes even small roles memorable. She has moved between independent dramas, studio blockbusters and prestige TV with ease, while also building a production company, JuVee Productions, with her husband Julius Tennon. Beyond acting, she often speaks openly about poverty, colourism, representation and her own journey, which has made her a respected public voice, not just a star.
Viola Davis Age – How Old is She?
Viola Davis was born on August 11, 1965, in St. Matthews, South Carolina, United States. Therefore, Viola Davis age is 60 years old as of 2025–2026. She celebrated her 60th birthday in August 2025, an event widely marked by tributes that also highlighted her EGOT achievement and long career.
Viola Davis Biography / Wiki Table
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Viola Davis |
| Date of Birth | August 11, 1965 |
| Age (2026) | 60 Years |
| Place of Birth | St. Matthews, South Carolina, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actress, Film Producer |
| Years Active | Mid‑1990s – Present |
| Notable Titles | EGOT winner; Triple Crown of Acting (Oscar, Emmy, Tony) |
| Famous Films | Fences, The Help, The Woman King, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes |
| Famous TV Shows | How to Get Away with Murder, City of Angels |
| Production Company | JuVee Productions (co‑founded with husband Julius Tennon) |
| Awards (highlights) | Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy, two Tony Awards, Cecil B. DeMille Award (2025) |
| Spouse | Julius Tennon (m. 2003) |
| Children | Daughter Genesis (adopted), plus two stepchildren |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
Early Life and Background
Viola Davis was born in rural St. Matthews, South Carolina, as one of six children to parents who worked blue‑collar jobs. When she was a baby, her family moved to Central Falls, Rhode Island, where her father worked as a horse groom at local racetracks and her mother did domestic and factory work. The family lived in poverty for many years, facing conditions like rat‑infested apartments and periods without enough food.
Despite the hardship, she developed an early love for performing. She first acted in school plays and local theatre competitions in Rhode Island, which gave her a sense of purpose and escape from daily struggles. Her childhood experiences with racism, hunger and housing insecurity later influenced the honesty and emotional depth she brought to her characters, especially when portraying women fighting against social and personal barriers.
Viola Davis Education
Viola Davis built her acting foundation through formal training as well as real‑world theatre work. She attended Central Falls High School, where teachers encouraged her talent and where she took part in school productions and speech competitions. After graduating, she enrolled at Rhode Island College, majoring in theatre. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre in 1988, becoming the first in her family to earn a college degree.
Following college, she studied at the Young People’s School for the Performing Arts in Rhode Island on a scholarship, which helped her prepare for more advanced training. She then applied to the Juilliard School in New York City and was admitted to the Drama Division, where she studied from 1989 to 1993 as part of Group 22. In later interviews, she has said that Juilliard gave her rigorous classical training but also made her confront the reality of being a dark‑skinned Black woman in a predominantly white environment, shaping both her craft and her awareness of representation.
Viola Davis Career Journey
Viola Davis began her professional career on the stage. After Juilliard, she joined Trinity Repertory Company, a respected regional theatre in Rhode Island, and then built a strong reputation in New York theatre, performing in Shakespeare and contemporary plays. Her early stage work earned her a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for King Hedley II (2001), a role in which she appeared for only about ten minutes but left a lasting impact.
She slowly transitioned to screen work with small roles in films like The Substance of Fire, Out of Sight, Traffic and Antwone Fisher. A major turning point came with Doubt (2008), where she played a mother in a single, intense scene opposite Meryl Streep. That performance earned her an Academy Award nomination, even though she had less than ten minutes of screen time. Later, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Fences (2016), after previously winning a Tony for the same role on stage.
In television, her biggest breakthrough came with How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020), where she played brilliant but troubled law professor Annalise Keating. This role made her the first Black woman to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Over time, she has taken on more producing work with JuVee Productions, backing projects that centre Black stories and underrepresented voices, including films and limited series.
Viola Davis Movies and TV Shows
Viola Davis has an extensive list of films and series across genres. Some of her most notable movies include:
- Fences (2016) – She played Rose Maxson, a role that earned her an Academy Award.
- The Help (2011) – As Aibileen Clark, a maid in 1960s Mississippi, she received wide acclaim and an Oscar nomination.
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) – She portrayed blues legend Ma Rainey in a powerful adaptation of August Wilson’s play.
- The Woman King (2022) – She starred as General Nanisca, the leader of an all‑female warrior unit in 19th‑century Dahomey.
- Air (2023) – She played Deloris Jordan, mother of Michael Jordan, in a film about Nike’s Air Jordan deal.
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) – She appeared as Dr. Volumnia Gaul, a key figure in the prequel story.
- Black Adam (2022), The Suicide Squad (2021), Suicide Squad (2016) – She played government official Amanda Waller in the DC comic film universe.
On television, important titles include:
- How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020) – Lead role as Annalise Keating.
- City of Angels (2000) – A medical drama where she met her future husband Julius Tennon.
- Guest roles in series like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and others earlier in her career.
Her work continues with upcoming projects such as G20 (2025) and Children of Blood and Bone, where she is attached as both actor and producer.
Viola Davis Physical Appearance – Table
Viola Davis is known for her strong, dignified presence and expressive face, which she uses very effectively on screen. Over the years, she has also been open about her changing relationship with weight, ageing and beauty standards in Hollywood, often challenging narrow expectations for Black women.
| Feature | Details |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Weight | Approx. 59 kg (130 lbs) |
| Body Measurements | 37‑28‑36 inches (approximate) |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair | Naturally curly Black hair; often styled in natural or textured looks on red carpets |
| Distinctive Features | Deep, expressive eyes; powerful voice; confident posture |
Viola Davis Family
Family is a central part of Viola Davis’s life and public story. She often speaks about her parents’ struggles, her bond with her siblings, and the home she has built with her husband, actor and producer Julius Tennon. Together they are raising their daughter Genesis and running their company JuVee Productions.
| Family Member | Relationship | Details |
| Dan Davis | Father | Worked as a horse groom; moved family from South Carolina to Rhode Island for work; part of a poor but close‑knit household. |
| Mae Alice Davis | Mother | Worked in domestic and factory jobs; also an activist in civil rights and community causes. |
| Siblings | Brothers and Sisters | Viola is one of six children; she has spoken about an older sister who inspired her resilience. |
| Julius Tennon | Husband | Actor and producer; met on City of Angels set; married in June 2003; co‑founder of JuVee Productions. |
| Genesis Tennon | Daughter | Adopted in 2011; has done voice work in The Angry Birds Movie 2 and appeared with her parents at events. |
| Two Stepchildren | Step‑son and Step‑daughter | Children from Julius Tennon’s previous relationships; Viola has spoken lovingly about being their stepmother. |
Together, the Tennon–Davis family has been featured in magazine profiles that highlight their supportive home life and their shared mission to create better opportunities for Black artists in the entertainment industry.
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