VIOLA DAVIS
Viola Davis, a black American actor known for dishing out her best in all roles; an actor who has racked up in excess, beautiful and mind blowing accolades; for her fantastic displays and role interpretations. The lengendary actor has demonstrated a wide range of abilities; that go from the acting stage, to gracing our TV screens, to becoming actively involved in the streets; ensuring human lives and properties matter.
VIOLA REGRETS
Her performance in How to Get Away with Murder helped her stand out for the primetime crowd; but she has plenty of other noteworthy roles on her resume. One of them, however, is on her list of regret. Despite resounding accolades she whipped up for the performance, Davis wishes she hadn’t agreed to star in The Help.
“There’s no one who’s not entertained by The Help,” she said. “But there’s a part of me that feels like I betrayed myself, and my people; because I was in a movie that wasn’t ready to tell the whole truth.” She adds that the film was “created in the filter and the cesspool of systemic racism.”
Amidst her many achievements, Davis has earned the recognition of being the first Black woman to win the “Triple Crown” award. This achievement refers to winning a Tony (for stage acting), a Primetime Emmy (for television), and an Oscar (for film).
This particular achievement, has only been achieved by a handful of stars. According to Rankers report, just 24 actors have managed to win all three; and Davis’s accomplishment puts her on the list with Al Pacino, Rita Moreno, and Jessica Lange.
Viola Davis has received two Tony awards for her stage performance; in 2001 and 2010. Also in 2015, she received the second point to the crown, with her Emmy for a lead actress, in the popular drama series; How To Get Away With Murder.
THE HELP
Davis role in The Help is a major one. She was the housekeeper Aibileen; who first opened up to Skeeter. One of the unforgettable scenes was when Aibileen repeatedly told the young child she cares for; “You is smart, you is kind, you is important.”
Viola Davis received rave reviews for her portrayal of the wronged domestic worker; but she has since voiced regrets about taking on the part.
VIOLA DAVIS EXPLAINS
Davis sees a problem in Hollywood been more interested in catering for the white audience. She feels there are no much opportunities for the blacks; and she states: “There’s not enough opportunities out there to bring that unknown, faceless Black actress, to the ranks of the known. To pop her!” This is one of the main reasons why she took the role in the first place, saying; “I was that journeyman actor, trying to get in.”
As E! reports, Davis says she has nothing but respect for the other actors she worked alongside, and has lifelong friendships from the film; but she regrets the way the story was told. She said; “I just felt that at the end of the day, that it wasn’t the voices of the maids that were heard. I know Aibileen. I know Minny. They’re my grandma. They’re my mom. And I know that if you do a movie where the whole premise is, I want to know what it feels like to work for white people and to bring up children in 1963; I want to hear how you really feel about it. I never heard that in the course of the movie.”
EXPECTATIONS
Although the film did pour in accolades to Davis, one would expect that it would flood in offers and more offers; but offers weren’t flooding her way as people thought or expected. Three years after The Help, Davis joined the cast of the ABC legal thriller How To Get Away With Murder, a show she led until its conclusion in May 2020. She explains that people are often curious about why she decided to be in the forefront a television show; with the height of the successes she has attained. She says; “I always ask them, What movies? What were those movies? Listen, I got Widows.” She adds, “but if I just relied on the Hollywood pipeline … No, there are not those roles.”
