Viola Davis

Viola Davis earned critical acclaim and a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play in 2001 for her powerful performance in August Wilson’s ‘King Hedley II.’ Davis made her Broadway debut in 1996 in another August Wilson production, ‘Seven Guitars,’ following earlier stage work including an off-Broadway production of ‘As You Like It’ in 1992. Her powerful film performances garnered an Academy Award nomination in 2008 for her supporting role in ‘Doubt.’ She continued her stage success, winning her second Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play in 2010 for her role as Rose Maxson in the Broadway revival of ‘Fences,’ and received her second Academy Award nomination in 2011 for her portrayal of Aibileen Clark in the film ‘The Help.’ In 2014, Davis cemented her television presence starring as Annalise Keating in the ABC series ‘How to Get Away with Murder.’ This role led to a historic Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2015, making her the first black woman to win in that category. She reprised her acclaimed stage role of Rose Maxson for the 2016 film adaptation of ‘Fences,’ which earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This achievement made Viola Davis the first black actress to earn the Triple Crown of Acting (Emmy, Tony, Oscar) for competitive performances.

Davis is set to receive the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2025, honoring her outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.