Viola Davis’ Most Badass Movie Performances
Viola Davis owned her role in the historical film The Woman King as Nanisca, a general who trains the next generation of warriors to fight their enemies to protect the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th to 19th centuries in the Gina Prince-Bythewood-directed film.
Davis got into fighting shape for this role under trainer Gabriela Mclain’s guidance, who used her martial arts and nutrition expertise to prepare the awarding winning actress for her many physically demanding scenes in the film.
The intense training proved to be worth it. Her efforts earned her a nomination for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama,” putting her up against several equally talented actresses, including Cate Blanchett, Olivia Colman, Ana De Armas, and Michelle Williams. Check Davis’ most badass movie moments below ahead of next year’s ceremony. And mark your calendars as the 80th Golden Globe Awards will be on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT from The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on NBC and Peacock.
“Widows”
Davis, alongside Michelle Rodriquez, Elizabeth Debicki, and Cynthia Erivo, are four Chicago women who attempt to steal $5,000,000 from the home of a prominent local politician to pay back a crime boss from whom $2,000,000 was stolen by the women's husbands before they were killed in a botched getaway attempt. The film stars an ensemble cast including Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Liam Neeson, and many more.
The Woman King
Daivs is General Nanisca, leader of the all-female group of warriors, the Agojie. She soon begins to train a new generation of warriors to join the Agojie to protect the Dahomey kingdom during the 17th to 19th centuries after slavers abducted the village women from the Oyo Empire. The film’s main characters are all Black women, including actresses Thuso Mbedu as Nawi and Lashana Lynch as Izogie. The movie also stars John Boyega and 2019 Miss Universe winner Zozi Tunzi.
How to Get Away with Murder
Davis battles it out in the courtroom as a defense attorney and law professor, Annalise Keating, at a prestigious Philadelphia university who, along with five of her students, portrayed by actors Alfred Enoch, Jack Falahee, Aja Naomi King, Matt McGorry, and Karla Souza, soon becomes entangled in a murder plot from creative genius Peter Nowalk, produced by Shonda Rhimes. The series was critically acclaimed and earned Davis a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, making her the first Black woman to obtain the honor.
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