Gina Prince-Bythewood’s latest feature film The Woman King is pushing the conversation forward about womanhood, sisterhood, colorism and more in Hollywood and while she had the pleasure of working alongside  Oscar winning actress Viola Davis, who also stars in the film, the director says it was a once in a lifetime moment.

“Working with Viola is the opportunity to touch greatness which we don't often get to do in our lives, to be in that type of space and environment is so inspiring, but also the fact that I got to bring something to her which is the athlete mentality,” she shared in a conversation with BET.com.

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“The fact that I have been in a ring that I know what it feels like, right before a fight, to be able to impart that type of wisdom to her I was like damn I get to teach Viola something,” she adds.

The Woman King highlights a cast of dark skin Black women with actresses like Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch and Shelia Atim at the forefront. Davis plays Nanisca, a general who trains the next generation of warriors to fight their enemies in an effort to protect the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th to 19th centuries.

“It was just great and the integrity we both share and the truth and the trust,” Prince-Bythewood continues, talking about working with Davis. “That's an incredible thing as a director and actor, the trust and it's something you never want to break, you want to foster and we absolutely had that from the beginning.”

The Woman King is in theaters now!

Watch the trailer below: