Viola Davis, action star? Award winner takes on a different type of character in new movie, “Widows”

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Viola Davis, action star? Get ready for it.

Best known for award-winning roles in filmĀ (The Help, Fences), theatre (Fences) and television (How to Get Away with Murder), the powerhouse star is about to try her hand at a crime thriller that’s already creating plenty of buzz.

Davis opens up about tackling her toughest role in the upcoming star-studded thriller,Ā Widow, and admits to stepping into uncharted waters with becoming a gritty character in the action movie.

ā€œThis could change the face of her career up to this point,ā€ said her husband of 15 years Tennon Davis.ā€œItā€™s a chance for Viola to be seen as the lead actor in a global movie.ā€

Davis revealed why her character was so intriguing, issues with pay inequality in Hollywood and ditching hair extensions to embrace her natural hair for the role.

Viola on her character inĀ Widows:Ā ā€œThis kind of role isnā€™t usually out there for a woman of color,ā€ says Davis.

People try to be too nice with women. They keep them pretty. They keep them likable. They cater to male fantasies. They cater to the male gaze. This film didnā€™t do that.ā€

Viola on knowing her ā€œworthā€:Ā ā€œPeople in general are always hustling for our worth,ā€ she says. ā€œPeople in positions of power are always telling you that youā€™re less than or youā€™re unworthy. Iā€™m a Christian. I reject that. Weā€™re born worthy. You need to take [unworthiness] off the table.ā€

READ MORE: ā€˜Cosby Showā€™ star Geoffrey Owens quits grocery store job, gets acting offer from Tyler Perry

Viola on her natural hair and her beauty

ā€œYouā€™re always taught as a person of color to not like your hair,ā€ she says. ā€œThe kinkier it is, the so-called nappier it is, the uglier it is.

ā€œWeā€™re into a zeitgeist where people are fighting for their space to be seen,ā€ says Davis. ā€œPeople have to know that there are different types of women of color. Weā€™re not all Foxy Brown. Weā€™re not all brown or light-skinned beauties with a big Afro. We have the girl next door. We have the older, dark-skinned, natural-haired woman.ā€

Viola on money:Ā ā€œThere are no percentages to show the difference,ā€ says Davis. ā€œItā€™s vast. Hispanic women, Asian women, black women, we donā€™t get paid what Caucasian women get paid. We just donā€™t. ā€¦ We have the talent. Itā€™s the opportunity that weā€™re lacking.ā€

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