Viola Davis was born on August 11, 1965, in St. Matthews, South Carolina. She grew up in poverty and endured a difficult childhood, often going hungry and living in squalor.
Davis is a graduate of the Juilliard School in New York City. She attended Juilliard alongside other notable actors such as Jessica Chastain and Sam Rockwell.
Viola Davis made history at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017 when she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film "Fences."
Davis won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role in the Broadway production of "King Hedley II" in 2001.
She won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Annalise Keating in the television series "How to Get Away with Murder."
Davis struggled with a stuttering problem when she was a child. She overcame this challenge through acting, using it as a way to express herself.
Viola Davis is married to actor Julius Tennon. The couple adopted a daughter named Genesis in 2011.
Davis and her husband Julius Tennon co-founded the production company JuVee Productions, which is focused on producing diverse and challenging roles for women and minorities in the entertainment industry.
Davis is a vocal advocate for equal pay and better roles for women and minorities in the entertainment industry.
Davis has a passion for reading and libraries. She has supported various library-related initiatives and has spoken about the importance of libraries in her own life.