STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Viola Davis on Playing Maids: "I'm Tired of That"

The Help actress on new roles for Black actors in Hollywood.

Viola Davis is at the top of her game in her career, and now she's ready for her on-screen roles to match her off-screen profile. 
The actress, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her roles in The Help and Doubt, tells CNN that her days of playing maids and domestic servants are over. "I'm tired of that," Davis says. "Me and Octavia [Spencer], Aunjanue Ellis, Roslyn Ruff...we all played maids in The Help and it was fabulous. It's a fabulous story because we were personalized and all of those things, but I think that people need to see an African-American in the 21st century integrated in the life of this town and family who's not in servitude."
Davis has one more turn as a domestic worker. In the upcoming film Beautiful Creatures, she plays a character named Amma, a hybrid of a maid and a librarian. But after that, she'll have her chance at playing a woman with fire power as Major Gwen Anderson in Ender's Game
Get ready for the BET Experience, featuring Beyoncé, Snoop DoggR. Kelly,  Erykah BaduKendrick Lamar and many more. Go here for more details and info on how to buy tickets

BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

 

 (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.