On Sept. 20, Viola Davis made history on the Emmy stage for being the first black woman to receive an award in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category for her portrayal of Annalise Keating, a hard-hitting college law professor, in “How to Get Away with Murder.”
Her speech was one to watch at the award show. She addressed the hotly-debated concern that there is not enough diversity within Hollywood, arguing that for this reason many women who are of color can’t find jobs to portray characters that just aren’t being written about and, therefore, don’t exist. She called for there to be more representation of diversity on screen.
At the beginning of her speech, she quoted Harriet Tubman, who was enslaved at a very young age during the mid-to-late 1800s. Tubman would go on to become an abolitionist, a humanitarian and a pioneer for civil rights activism. Davis said that when she heard the quote for the first time she was taken aback by its powerful, progressive meaning, saying that for her it related to this moment, given that in the past no woman of color has ever won in this category.
She is a wonderful actress and a passionate advocate for her cause. Here are some of the things that stand out about Viola Davis as an up and coming actress and, in our opinion, make her one to watch in the future:
1. She has proved to have developed her skills very substantially thus far, but this win is an indication she is far from finished with impressing us.
2. She appreciates each win equally and accepts each one humbly.
3. She doesn’t get caught up in what people say about her, which allows her to focus more on what matters to her the most: her acting and her family.
4. She is fiercely real, which is inspiring to watch, especially in her role as an African-American woman who has flaws as well as admirable qualities.
5. She knows how to celebrate, the right way.
6. She acknowledged and gave a shout-out to her colleagues who have come before her and have paved a path for other black women in Hollywood.
7. She embraces her competitors, as more than just competition, but as friends and colleagues.
We will be watching as she celebrates continued success in her career!
Watch her full speech here: