Vanessa Nakate to Open Giving Black Conference 2026 With Climate Justice Keynote
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United States Viola Davis is an acclaimed actress and producer, recognized for her powerful performances across film, television, and theater, and for her advocacy on behalf of human rights and women of color.
Viola Davis became the newest international spokesperson and brand ambassador for L'Oréal Paris in September 2019, joining other celebrities to promote the brand's message of diversity and beauty products.
HarperOne Group partnered with JVL Media, a new publisher and packager launched by Viola Davis, to facilitate publishing and other media projects.
Viola Davis partnered with Audi for events such as BAFTA A Life in Pictures, where her career was celebrated.
Davis collaborated with Vaseline to promote the Vaseline Healing Project, supporting community health centers and dermatological care in underserved communities, including her hometown of Central Falls, Rhode Island.
Viola Davis was born on August 11, 1965, in St. Matthews, South Carolina, and grew up in Central Falls, Rhode Island, experiencing poverty. She developed an early interest in acting through local stage productions. Davis pursued her education at Rhode Island College, where she majored in theater, and later graduated from the prestigious Juilliard School of Performing Arts. Her early career included small stage roles and television appearances, such as in an off-Broadway production of “As You Like It” in 1992.
Davis gained critical attention for her Broadway debut in August Wilson’s play “Seven Guitars” in 1996. Her performance in another August Wilson play, “King Hedley II” in 2001, earned her a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She received her first Academy Award nomination in 2008 for her supporting role in the film “Doubt.” In 2010, Davis won her second Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her role as Rose Maxson in the Broadway revival of “Fences.” Her role as Aibileen Clark in the 2011 film “The Help” garnered her a second Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
In 2014, Davis starred as Annalise Keating in the ABC series “How to Get Away with Murder,” becoming the first black woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2015. She reprised her role as Rose Maxson in the 2016 film adaptation of “Fences,” winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This achievement made her the first black actress to earn the Triple Crown of Acting. Davis has continued her impactful career with roles in films such as “The Woman King” (2022) and “Air” (2023), and earned a Grammy Award in 2023 for narrating her memoir “Finding Me,” completing her EGOT status.
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