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Viola Davis

Celebrity

Viola Davis: Biography

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Birth Place: Saint Matthews, SC
Date of Birth / Zodiac Sign: 08/11/1965, Leo
Profession: Actor

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Viola Davis Fast Facts:Her introduction to acting came in her teens during her time with Upward Bound, a program that assists low-income students in graduating high school and enrolling in college; Davis continues to support the organization as a speaker, role model and cofounder of an endowment fund.

Traveled to Africa when awarded a scholarship in 1981 to study the role of art in native cultures.
Made her feature-film debut in 1996's The Substance of Fire.
Among her theater awards: a Tony nomination for August Wilson's Seven Guitars (1996); an Obie for Everybody's Ruby (1999); a Tony and a Drama Desk Award for Wilson's King Hedley II (2001); Drama Desk and Obie Awards for her role in Intimate Apparel (2004); and a Tony Award for Fences (2010).
Has worked several times with director Steven Soderbergh, including the films Out of Sight (1998), Traffic (2000) and Solaris (2002).
Received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree in 2002 from Rhode Island College, her alma mater.
Consulted with her mother frequently about her mom's experiences working as a maid to help create the backstory for Aibileen, Davis' character from 2011's The Help.
Named to the 2012 TIME 100, a list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Viola Davis Relationships:
Julius Tennon - Husband
Dianne Wright - Sister
Genesis - Daughter
Dan Davis - Father
Deloris Grant - Sister
Mary Davis - Mother
Viola Davis Awards:
1996 Tony: Actress (Featured Role--Play) - Nominee
2001 Tony: Actress (Featured Role--Play) - Winner
2009 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - Nominee
2008 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Nominee
2010 Tony: Actress (Play) - Winner
2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture - Nominee
2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role - Nominee
2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture - Winner
2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Winner
2012 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama - Nominee
2011 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Nominee
2011 BAFTA Awards: Best Leading Actress - Nominee
College:
Rhode Island College, Providence, RI (BA in Theater, 1988); The Juilliard School, New York, NY (Theater Arts, 1994)