Viola Davis (born August 11, 1965) is an American actress and producer known for performances that feel both emotionally raw and sharply controlled. She became a defining face of modern television as Annalise Keating on How to Get Away with Murder, and she has also built a film career that spans prestige drama, studio features, and stage-to-screen adaptations.
Across theater, film, and television, Davis has earned many of the industry’s top honors, including major wins for Fences and her TV work. In recent years, she has continued expanding her range through high-profile roles and producing, including work connected to JuVee Productions, the company she co-founded to help push more inclusive, creator-driven storytelling.
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Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Viola Davis |
| Profession: | Actress, producer |
| Born: | August 11, 1965 |
| Age: | 60 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace: | St. Matthews, South Carolina, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | Annalise Keating on How to Get Away with Murder; Rose Maxson in Fences; leading roles in prestige drama and stage-to-screen work |
| Notable Films: | Fences; The Help; Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; The Woman King |
| Major Awards: | Academy Award (acting), Primetime Emmy (acting), two Tony Awards (acting), Grammy Award (audiobook) |
| Zodiac Sign: | Leo |
| Relationship: | Married to Julius Tennon (since 2003) |
| Years Active: | 1988 to present |
Early Life & Education
Viola Davis was born on August 11, 1965, in St. Matthews, South Carolina, and she has often spoken about growing up with significant hardship. Her family later moved to Central Falls, Rhode Island, where she was raised, and those early experiences became a lasting part of how she talks about ambition, survival, and identity.
She pursued acting through formal training, earning a degree from Rhode Island College and then attending The Juilliard School. That combination of lived experience and elite training helped shape a career that moves comfortably between theater, film, and television, with a reputation for craft-first performances.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Davis first built major momentum through theater, earning top recognition for her stage work in August Wilson plays. That theater foundation helped position her for film roles that demanded precision and emotional weight, including acclaimed performances in projects like Doubt and The Help, before she delivered one of her most widely praised screen turns as Rose Maxson in Fences.
On television, she became a landmark lead with Annalise Keating on How to Get Away with Murder, a role that brought major awards attention and helped redefine who gets to occupy the center of a network drama. Alongside acting, Davis expanded into producing through JuVee Productions, and she continued taking on big, audience-facing roles, including leading the historical action epic The Woman King and later headlining the Prime Video thriller G20.
Selected film and TV highlights
- King Hedley II (Broadway, 2001)
- Doubt (2008)
- The Help (2011)
- How to Get Away with Murder (2014 to 2020)
- Suicide Squad (2016)
- Fences (2016)
- Widows (2018)
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
- The Woman King (2022)
- G20 (2025)
Major recognition
- Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for How to Get Away with Murder (winner, 2015)
- Academy Awards, Best Supporting Actress for Fences (winner, 2017)
- Tony Awards, acting wins for King Hedley II (2001) and Fences (2010)
- Grammy Awards, Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording for Finding Me (winner, 2023)
- Cecil B. DeMille Award (Golden Globes lifetime achievement honor, awarded in 2025)
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Tony Awards | Actress (Featured Role, Play) | King Hedley II | Won |
| 2010 | Tony Awards | Actress (Leading Role, Play) | Fences | Won |
| 2015 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | How to Get Away with Murder | Won |
| 2017 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Fences | Won |
| 2017 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Motion Picture) | Fences | Won |
| 2023 | Grammy Awards | Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording | Finding Me (audiobook) | Won |
| 2025 | Golden Globes | Cecil B. DeMille Award | Career honor | Received |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | King Hedley II | Theater | Tony-winning Broadway performance. |
| 2008 | Doubt | Film | Breakthrough film visibility in a prestige ensemble. |
| 2011 | The Help | Film | Major mainstream recognition in an awards-season hit. |
| 2014 to 2020 | How to Get Away with Murder | TV | Lead role as Annalise Keating, Emmy-winning performance. |
| 2016 | Suicide Squad | Film | High-profile franchise role as Amanda Waller. |
| 2016 | Fences | Film | Oscar-winning supporting performance as Rose Maxson. |
| 2018 | Widows | Film | Heist thriller led by a women-centered ensemble. |
| 2020 | Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom | Film | Acclaimed performance opposite Chadwick Boseman. |
| 2022 | The Woman King | Film | Lead role in the historical action epic. |
| 2025 | G20 | Film | Prime Video thriller starring Davis as the U.S. president. |
Net Worth, Income, & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2025 to 2026) | Viola Davis has not published a verified net worth figure. Public estimates vary widely, and most are not based on primary financial disclosures. |
| Income Sources | Acting across film, TV, and theater; producing through JuVee Productions; audiobook and book-related work tied to her memoir Finding Me; and selective brand or speaking engagements. |
| Business and Producing | Co-founder and leadership involvement in JuVee Productions, which develops and produces film and TV projects. |
| Lifestyle | Public coverage commonly emphasizes her family life, long-term partnership, and mission-driven work supporting inclusive storytelling. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| Official account: @violadavis. | |
| X (Twitter) | Official account: @violadavis. |
| Public page: Viola Davis (official-style page). | |
| IMDb | Filmography reference: IMDb. |
| Official Website | viola-davis.com |
| Production Company | JuVee Productions: juveeproductions.com |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: In addition to any official accounts listed above, many fan-run pages and clip accounts exist. These are not confirmed to be affiliated with Viola Davis. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- She has spoken openly about growing up in poverty, including her childhood in Central Falls, Rhode Island after being born in South Carolina.
- She trained at Rhode Island College and The Juilliard School before becoming a major stage and screen performer.
- She won her first Tony Award for King Hedley II (2001) and later won another Tony for Fences (2010).
- Her 2015 Emmy win for How to Get Away with Murder is widely cited as a milestone for representation in TV drama leads.
- She completed EGOT status with a Grammy win for the audiobook edition of Finding Me.
- She co-founded JuVee Productions with Julius Tennon to develop and produce projects with broader representation on and off screen.
Quotes
“You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.”
— Emmy acceptance speech (2015)
“The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.”
— Emmy acceptance speech (2015)
“There’s one place that all the people with the greatest potential are gathered, and that’s the graveyard.”
— Academy Awards acceptance speech for Fences (2017)
“I became an artist … because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life.”
— Academy Awards acceptance speech for Fences (2017)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Viola Davis’s age?
A: She was born on August 11, 1965 (60 years old as of 2026).
Q: What is Viola Davis best known for?
A: She is widely known for playing Annalise Keating on How to Get Away with Murder and for her award-winning work in Fences, along with major films like The Help, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and The Woman King.
Q: Is Viola Davis married?
A: Yes. She is married to actor and producer Julius Tennon (married in 2003).
Q: Is Viola Davis an EGOT winner?
A: Yes. She has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award.
Q: Where did Viola Davis go to school?
A: She attended Rhode Island College and The Juilliard School.
Upcoming Projects
- Ally Clark (in development / filming activity reported for 2026) – Thriller set up at Amazon MGM Studios with Phillip Noyce attached to direct and Viola Davis set to star and produce.
- Children of Blood and Bone (Jan 15, 2027) – Paramount’s film adaptation directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, with Davis cast as Mama Agba.
- Waller (TBA) – DC Studios series in development featuring Viola Davis returning as Amanda Waller.
- The Untamed: A Sinner’s Prayer (in development) – A planned feature adaptation being developed through JuVee Productions.
Interviews & Features
- Harvard Business Review, “Life’s Work: An Interview with Viola Davis” (Nov 2023) , a wide-ranging discussion of craft, resilience, and how she thinks about leadership, work, and personal growth.
- Entertainment Weekly, “Viola Davis on becoming an action hero in G20” (Apr 2025) , a feature on her approach to action work, stunts, and building a character under high-pressure storytelling.
- Vogue, “Viola Davis’ 2015 Emmys acceptance speech” (Sep 2015) , coverage of her speech and the representation argument that became a widely cited moment in awards history.
- Golden Globes, “Viola Davis’s uncut acceptance speech as Golden Gala honoree” (Jan 2025) , her Cecil B. DeMille Award speech in full, published by the Golden Globes organization.
- The Hollywood Reporter, “Viola Davis to star and produce thriller Ally Clark” (Jun 2025) , project announcement detailing the director attachment and the Amazon MGM setup.
Public Appearances & Festivals
- Golden Globes (Jan 2025): Davis received the Cecil B. DeMille Award during Golden Globes weekend events in Beverly Hills.
- Good Morning America (Apr 7, 2025): She appeared on the show to promote G20, ahead of its Prime Video release.
- Academy Awards (Feb 26, 2017): Davis accepted the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Fences in Los Angeles.
- San Diego Comic-Con International (Jul 2016): She appeared for the Suicide Squad presentation in San Diego.
