Knowra Viola Davis Viola Davis Viola Davis is an American actress and producer whose work spans film, television, and theater. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Fences .
Fences : August Wilson’s play about a Black family in 1950s Pittsburgh, adapted into a 2016 film. Davis won an Academy Award for reprising Rose Maxson in the film adaptation.
Juilliard School : A performing arts conservatory in New York City. Davis studied acting there after earning a theater degree from Rhode Island College.
Julius Tennon : An American actor and producer who is married to Viola Davis. Tennon and Davis co-founded JuVee Productions to develop film, television, and theater projects.
Triple Crown of Acting : The distinction of winning an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award in acting categories. Davis became the first Black performer to achieve the acting Triple Crown.
African-American cinema : Films made by, about, or centrally featuring African Americans and their experiences. Davis’s leading roles and production work contribute to the visibility of Black stories.
The Help : A 2011 film about Black domestic workers in Mississippi during the early 1960s. Davis’s performance as Aibileen Clark earned her an Academy Award nomination.
Rhode Island College : A public college in Providence, Rhode Island. Davis graduated with a degree in theater in 1988.
Meryl Streep : An American actress known for a wide range of film, television, and stage roles. Davis and Streep shared scenes in Doubt , where Davis’s single-scene performance drew major attention.
EGOT : The achievement of winning competitive Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. Davis has won an Emmy, Oscar, and Tony, but not a Grammy.
Colorism : Discrimination or preference based on skin tone, often within communities of the same racial or ethnic group. Davis has discussed how colorism shapes casting and representation for dark-skinned Black actresses.
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