8 Things You Didn’t Know About Viola Davis

Viola Davis is a well-known American actress and producer. Davis, who was born into a poor family, worked hard to overcome her difficult childhood. She dabbled in acting and appeared on TV, film, and stage, amassing a significant name and fame in less than a decade. She made a name for herself, and her fans may be curious to learn more about her, so these facts will undoubtedly assist you.

8 Things You Didn’t Know About Viola Davis

1. Won An Academy Award For Two Positions

Davis is one of only two African American women to receive nominations for both Lead Actress and Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards. Whoopi Goldberg is the only other woman to have accomplished this feat. ^[1]

2. Doesn’t Come From A Rich Family

Davis came from a poor and rural background. Mary Alice, her mother, worked as a maid and a factory worker. Dan, her father, worked as a horse trainer. ^[2]

3. Wants Her Daughter To  Set Up with Sandra Bullocks Son Louis

Viola and her husband adopted their daughter, Genesis, in 2011, and at the age of one, Viola was already expressing her preferences for who she might end up with. “I’d absolutely love to set her up with Louis,” she said at the time. ^[3]

4. One Of Her Favourite Roles

She is best known for her stage work, but one of her favorite roles is as serial killer Terry Randolph on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Davis took on the role in 2002 and brought it to life on her own terms. ^[4]

5. Stayed At George Clooney’s Home

Davis revealed to Entertainment Weekly that she and her husband Tennon honeymooned at the actor’s opulent 22-room Lake Como villa in Italy following their 2003 wedding. However, Clooney did not stay in town while Davis was there. ^[5]

6. A Trained Actress

Davis majored in theatre at Rhode Island College before attending the Juilliard School in New York City. Despite her early interest in acting, she did not land her first role until the late 1990s, in the film Substance of Fire.

7. Her Talent Was Recognized By Bernard Masterson

Bernard Masterson was among the first to recognize Davis’ talent. He was the director of an acting program at West Warwick’s Young People’s School for the Performing Arts.

8. She Was In Ocean’s 11

Many of you may be surprised to learn that Davis played a minor role in the opening scene of the 2001 heist film Ocean’s Eleven. She plays the parole officer who converses with Danny Ocean (George Clooney).