Anyone who has paid attention knows that Viola Davis is nothing short of an acting legend. Whether she’s starring in the movie, bringing down the house on Broadway, or showing off her impeccable talents on television, she’s truly one of the best actors of her time. Unfortunately, it seems that Hollywood is just now starting to recognize what a real force the Oscar-winning performer is.
Davis has dominated acting roles for years, large and small. Unfortunately, she did not get the same number of opportunities as her peers. De How can you get away with murder star has been very sincere about the fact that women of color often do not get the same opportunities to succeed as their White colleagues.
Viola Davis has proven time and time again that she is a powerhouse
During a 2016 visit to the TODAY show, Davis talks about another legendary actress, Meryl Streep. She shared that one of the reasons Streep is one of the most decorated actors in history is because she was given ample opportunities to show off her incredible talent.
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“I always say that Meryl Streep would not be Meryl Streep without Sophie’s Choice, out of Kramer vs. Kramer, out of The devil is wearing Prada, “Davis shared, and has named some of Streep’s most famous films.” You can not be Meryl Streep if you are the third girl from left in the story with two scenes, “Davis added.
The actor always exhibits in movies
But even though Davis may not have had as many opportunities to succeed as her White colleagues, she has seized every opportunity she has rightfully deserved. There have been countless times when Davis has shown her incredible skill set despite the size of her role. One of the best examples of this comes from the role of Davis in Doubt where she gave new meaning to the infamous quote: “There are no small parts, just small actors.”
Doubt is a 2008 film about a seemingly charming priest who seeks to reform a strict Catholic school. One thing he does is confess to the school’s first Black student, Donald Miller. However, when two nuns think the priest is paying a little too much attention to Donald, they do everything in their power to take him down. To name the cast of Doubt powerful is an enormous understatement. Next to Davis are Streep, Amy Adams, and the late and great Philip Seymour Hoffman.
How Davis earned an Oscar nomination in less than 8 minutes
In the film, Davis plays the role of Donald’s mother, Mrs. Miller. She is in one scene against Streep for about 7 minutes and 41 seconds. But despite the limited screen time, Davis’ performance in the film is extraordinary. She made the scene one of the most memorable in the entire film and even managed to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role.
The ‘HTGAWM’ star really gets about equal pay
Even after David proved she could hold her own against Streep, TV and film executives were still reluctant to pay Davis competitively. ‘You’re a black Meryl Streep,’ Davis shared back in 2018, recalling what executives told her at the Women in the World Event. ” That’s you, and we love you! We love you. There is no one like you. ‘OK, then if there’s no one like me, if you think I do, you pay me what I’m worth. You give me what I’m worth! “Explained Davis. Hopefully, the sector will one day recognize what a force Davis is and pay them for it. We can wait to see what she does next.
