Viola Davis On Winning An Emmy: “It’s not just the award. It’s what it’s going to mean to young girls — young brown girls, especially.”

Fresh off of making history as the the first black woman to win for lead actress in a drama, a reflective Viola Davis covers VARIETY. Peep a few of our favorite excerpts.

Winning an Emmy:

What it meant for me to win the Emmy is I found it. It’s not just the award. It’s what it’s going to mean to young girls — young brown girls, especially. When they saw a physical manifestation of a dream, I felt like I had fulfilled a purpose.

What she told reporters, backstage at the Emmys:

You guys have to realize, I’ve been in this business 35 years, and 27 years professionally. I’m the journeyman actor that you saw in one scene here, two scenes there. I’ve been eking out a living doing theater — Broadway, Off Broadway — film supporting roles, that I’m just excited to be a part of the conversation.

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