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.
āThis could change the face of her career up to this point,ā said her husband of 15 years Tennon Davis.āItās 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 āThis kind of role isnāt 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 didnāt do that.ā
Viola on knowing her āworthā:Ā āPeople in general are always hustling for our worth,ā she says. āPeople in positions of power are always telling you that youāre less than or youāre unworthy. Iām a Christian. I reject that. Weāre born worthy. You need to take [unworthiness] off the table.ā
READ MORE: āCosby Showā star Geoffrey Owens quits grocery store job, gets acting offer from Tyler Perry
Viola on her natural hair and her beauty
āYouāre always taught as a person of color to not like your hair,ā she says. āThe kinkier it is, the so-called nappier it is, the uglier it is.
āWeāre into a zeitgeist where people are fighting for their space to be seen,ā says Davis. āPeople have to know that there are different types of women of color. Weāre not all Foxy Brown. Weāre 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 āThere are no percentages to show the difference,ā says Davis. āItās vast. Hispanic women, Asian women, black women, we donāt get paid what Caucasian women get paid. We just donāt. ā¦ We have the talent. Itās the opportunity that weāre lacking.ā