Viola Davis Shares Why Her Upcoming Role In ‘The Woman King’ Is The Most Important Of Her Career: I’ve Never Had A Role Like This Before

Viola Davis

Viola Davis Shares Why Her Upcoming Role In ‘The Woman King’ Is The Most Important Of Her Career: I’ve Never Had A Role Like This Before

Viola Davis is getting candid about the impact and importance of her upcoming film.

Set to hit theaters on September 16, The Woman King, starring Viola Davis, tells the story of a fierce African tribe of women warriors. The 56-year-old TV and film star recently opened up about the historic project, suggesting that it’s one of the most important works of her career.

Tomorrow. Agojie… @WomanKingMovie pic.twitter.com/sIbyxFKzbe

— Viola Davis (@violadavis) July 5, 2022

During an interview, Viola Davis was asked why she considers the period piece film her “magnum opus”. The term is defined as “a large and important work of art, music, or literature, especially one regarded as the most important work of an artist or writer”. The How To Get Away With Murder star responded:

“I’ve never had a role like this before. It’s transformative. And to be a producer on it, and to know that I had a hand in bringing it to fruition…. There’s always a vision you have for your career, but there are very few roles as an actress of color.”

Viola Davis

She continued:

“Dark skin with a wide nose and big lips. I’m just gonna continue to say it. Those stories are extraordinarily limited.”

Davis went on to speak more about Black representation during the interview she continued:

“I knew what it would mean to us as Black people. Something that has never been done before. And what it would mean for Black women sitting in that movie theater.”

Adding:

“The responsibility is really high.”

The decorated entertainer recently caught some flack from internet critics over her portrayal of Forever First Lady, Michelle Obama. Fans ridiculed Davis over her artistic choices of facial expressions imitating the former F.L.O.T.U.S. However, the actress staunchly stated that the opinions of critics don’t matter to her. Adding that escapist movies and social media are “destroying the art form”.

Despite this, Davis asserts that she will continue to make films for underrepresented people. Speaking on the difficulties of having a movie like this made, she stated:

“It’s always hard. It is hard to be an artist, hard to be a Black artist, and even harder to be a Black female artist.”

Viola Davis Portrait

The Woman King tells the story of a non-mythical West African tribe called the Agojie (aka the Amazons). Reportedly, the action drama will depict the real lives of an army of warrior women who successfully defended kingdoms in the 17th – 19th centuries.

[VIA]

Will you be tuning in to The Woman King when it hits theaters? Tell us in the comments!