Viola Davis (Actress): Bio, Age, Career, Net worth, Family, Relationship.  

Viola Davis is an American based actress and producer. In her career, she has received numerous accolades; Viola is one of the few artists to have been awarded an Emmy, an Oscar, a Grammy, and a Tony (EGOT). In addition, she is the sole African-American to earn the Triple Crown of Acting and the 3rd person to achieve both statuses. In 2012 and 2017, Viola’s name was in Time’s top 100 most influential people in the world list; in 2020, The New York Times ranked her 9th among the greatest actors of the 21st century.

Viola started acting in Central Falls, Rhode Island, by appearing in small stage productions. In 1999, she won an Obie Award for her performance in Everybody’s Ruby as Ruby McCollum. Further, from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, she played minor roles in film and television. For Viola’s role in the Broadway production of King Hedley II (2001), she was awarded Tony Award. In 2008, she got a film breakthrough role in the drama Doubt, for which she received her 1st Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. In 2010, Viola won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her appearance in the Broadway revival play Fences as Rose Maxson.

In 2011, she appeared in the comedy-drama The Help; from 2014 to 2020, Viola appeared in several series and films, like How to Get Away with Murder (2014), Fences (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020), Widows (2018) and The Woman King (2022).

Viola and Julius Tennon, her husband, are founders of a production company named JuVee Productions. She is also widely recognized for supporting human and equal rights for women, especially women of color. In 2017, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2019, Viola became a L’Oréal Paris ambassador. The audiobook narration of her memoir Finding Me (2022) earned her a Grammy Award in 2023, making Viola the 18th person to achieve EGOT status.

Viola Davis Early Life:

Viola was born on 11th August 1965 in St. Matthews, South Carolina. Her birthplace was her grandmother’s farm on the Singleton Plantation. Soon after Viola was born, her parents moved with Viola and 2 of her elder siblings to Central Falls (Rhode Island) and left her other siblings with the grandparents.

Viola describes her childhood as “lived in abject poverty and dysfunction” and often recalls living in “rat-infested and condemned” apartments.

Viola is a Christian and regularly attends Oasis Church in Los Angeles.

Viola Davis Family Background: 

Viola was born to Mae Alice Davis and Dan Davis. Her father used to work as a horse trainer, and her mother was a factory worker, maid, and homemaker. During the Civil Rights Movement, Viola’s mother was an activist. When she was 2 years old, Viola and her mother were arrested and jailed during a civil rights protest. 

Viola has 4 sisters and 1 brother in sibling; she is the 2nd youngest. 

She is a 2nd cousin of actor Mike Colter, who is popular for playing the character Luke Cage of Marvel Comics.

Viola Davis Education:

Viola attended Central Falls High School, where she started getting involved in stage acting and arts. She was a member of the federal TRIO Upward Bound and Federal TRIO Programs during this time. Further, she enrolled at the Young People’s School for the Performing Arts (West Warwick, Rhode Island); her talent was recognized by the director Bernard Masterson. 

After her high school graduation, Viola attended Rhode Island College. In 1988, she graduated, majoring in theater and participating in the National Student Exchange. Further, she attended the Juilliard School for 4 years and, from 1989-93, was a member of the school’s Drama Division “Group 22”.

Viola Davis Physical stats:

Viola stands 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs around 60 kg. She has a fit and healthy body physics. Further, she has black colored hair and eyes. Her distinctive features include shiny black skin, a charming smile, and acting prowess.

Viola is already at the end of the ’50s; she has maintained her physics well. She takes good care of her diet and workouts. She was reported under Wolverine Diet for her role as Susie Brown in the movie Get on Up (2014). According to an interview given to People magazine, Viola had admitted to losing weight with the diet plan.

Viola Davis Birth Signs:

According to Viola’s birthdate, she falls under the zodiac Leo. Currently, she is 57 years old. Further, her birth flower is Gladiolus, and her birth element is Fire. 

Viola Davis Net worth:

Viola is one of the most popular actresses; her estimated net worth is around $30 Million. Throughout her career, Viola has achieved several awards. In addition, she and her husband are founders of JuVee Productions, a production company. 

Details about her properties, Viola purchased an estate in Toluca Lake for around $5.7 million in 2016. The 7,500 square feet property features several sophisticated features. The outdoor area includes a pool, fountains, a built-in BBQ, and a fire pit.

In 2017, she sold one of her properties in Los Angeles for around $1.15 million. 

Viola Davis Relationship Status: 

Viola has been married to Julius Tennon, an actor, since June 2003. In 2011, the couple adopted a daughter named Genesis (born on 10th July 2010). Further, Viola is a stepmother to Julius’s children from his previous relationship with Sheryl Arnolds; a daughter Sheavonda Diana Tennon (born on 6th October 1976), and a son Duriel Dwight Tennon (born on 28th December 1979).

Viola Davis Career:

In 1988, Viola debuted Broadway in Joe Turner’s ‘Come and Gone.’ Further, as a nurse, she appeared in ‘The Substance of Fire,’ marking her film debut. She received a Screen Actors Guild card for her debut acting. That same year, Viola played a minor role in Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Out of Sight.’

In 2001, in the play’ King Hedley II, ‘ she appeared as a woman who fought for the right to abort her pregnancy. Viola was honored with the ‘Tony Award’ for performing in this Broadway play. She also appeared in many television series. One of her notable roles was in an episode titled ‘Badge’ from the television show ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent.’ as a serial killer,

In 2002, Viola caught the attention of critics when she appeared in ‘Antwone Fisher.’ She had a minor role in this film, but her presence was noticeable. Further, in 2008, her career went to a higher step after she portrayed the character of ‘Mrs. Miller,’ in the film ‘Doubt.’ 

In 2010, Viola returned to the stage and delivered another performance in August Wilson’s ‘Fences.’ The following year, she appeared in the screen adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling novel, The Help. This film was based on the racial divide between white housewives and black servants.

In 2014, Viola teamed up with director Tate Taylor for ‘Get on Up,’ a biopic of singer James Brown. In the film, she appeared as the singer’s mother. Further, from 2015 to 2019, she appeared in several movies like ‘Blackhat,’ ‘Suicide Squad,’ ‘Custody,’ ‘Widows,’ and ‘Troop Zero.’ 

In 2018, Viola debuted Two-Sides, a documentary exploring police brutality toward the African-American community. Further, she starred alongside fellow Shondaland costar Kerry Washington for a special 2-hour episode of How to Get Away with Murder and Scandal. Her appearance garnered a 4th Emmy Award nomination and 1st for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. That same year, Viola starred in the film Widows, an adaptation of the popular 1983 British miniseries. 

In 2020, Viola was an executive producer and appeared in the documentary ‘Giving Voice.’ She starred in the biographical drama Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom that same year. For her performance, she received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, her 6th Golden Globe Award, and her 2nd Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Viola became the most-nominated black Actress in the Academy Awards history and the 1st black Actress to have been nominated for Best Actress more than once. Further, she appeared on the cover of the July 2020 issue of Vanity Fair, photographed by Dario Calmese.

In 2021, Viola reprised her role in the superhero film The Suicide Squad as Amanda Waller. That same year, she appeared in the drama film The Unforgivable and also appeared as Amanda Waller in 2 episodes, “It’s Cow or Never” and “A Whole New Whirled” in season 1 of Peacemaker (Tv series); additionally appeared in the film, Black Adam. Viola then executive produced and played a former First Lady Michelle Obama in The First Lady (a Showtime drama series), which premiered in April 2022. In 2022, she starred in The Woman King, inspired by true events within The Kingdom of Dahomey. That same year, Viola was Disney’s Candlelight Processional narrator at Disneyland. Further, in February 2023, it was announced that Viola would reprise her role as Amanda Waller in the upcoming series Waller, for which she will also serve as executive producer.

Philanthropy and activism:

In 2011, Viola donated funds to her hometown public library in Central Falls to prevent its closure. In 2018, she donated funds to her school, Central Falls High School. Further, since 2014, she has collaborated with the Hunger Is campaign to help remove childhood hunger across America. In September 2017, Viola started the $30K in 30 Days Project with Hunger Is and granted $1,000 to the Rhode Island Community food bank. 

She is also a partner with Vaseline and promotes the Vaseline Healing Project. She also spoke at the 2018 Women’s March event in Los Angeles.

Viola Davis Social Appearance:

 Viola has a massive fan following on all her social media handles. On Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, she has around 10.3M, 2.8M, and 1.8M followers, respectively. Viola’s posts consist of a variety of her personal and professional life. 

Summary!

Viola Davis’s career itself is a combination of achievements accomplished by her. She has touched millions of her hearts through her acting and Philanthropy. We wish Viola all the best for her forthcoming projects.