Viola Davis makes history, winning for her role in How to Get Away with Murder
Viola Davis, who starred as law school professor Annalise Keating in ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder, made history by becoming the first black woman to win the prestigious best actress in a drama series at the 2015Â Emmys.
The 50-year-old from South Carolina said there is still work to be done in getting more diverse stories on screen. In her acceptance speech, Davis quoted Harriet Tubman, an African-American anti-slavery activist during the American Civil War whom she will be playing in a forthcoming HBO movie.
“The only thing that separates women of colour from anyone else is opportunity,” Davis said. “You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.”
Backstage, Davis expanded on the debate, saying “there is a difference when it comes to actors of colour in this business. If it’s been 67 years since an actress of colour has won an Emmy then there is certainly a line. My story doesn’t end here. There is so much work that needs to be done in so many areas in the business with actors of colour, so many narratives that need to be seen by people, so many stories that need to be seen and felt.”
She and her husband, Julius Tennon, run their own production company. She said of her new fame: “My biggest fear is that a paparazzi or someone… is going to come in my backyard and see me when I get in my pool. That would be very unfortunate.”
Davis was up against fellow black nominee Taraji P Henson, who plays hip-hop matriarch Cookie Lyon on Fox’s melodrama Empire. As Davis walked up to accept the award, she and Henson hugged and exchanged words of support. “We whispered to each other: ‘Whoever gets it, it’s great, it’s wonderful and I love you,'” Davis revealed.
Davis thanked How to Get Away with Murder creator Peter Nowalk, executive producer Shonda Rhimes and others, calling them “people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black.”
Davis grew up in Central Falls, Rhode Island, where her father was a horse trainer and groomer, and she later studied at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. In 2009, she was nominated for the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in Doubt, playing alongside Meryl Streep. Over the past decade, Davis has landed bit parts in a series of critically acclaimed films, most notably Traffic, Out of Sight, Antwone Fisher, Syriana, World Trade Centre and Disturbia.
Diversity and race was a talking point during the awards, with Emmys host Andy Samberg saying: “The big story this year, of course, is diversity. This is the most diverse group of nominees in Emmy history. So congratulations, Hollywood, you did it. Yeah. Racism is over – don’t fact-check that.”
Another prominent African-American woman winner on the night was Uzo Aduba, who took the best supporting actress in a drama prize for her role in Orange is The New Black.
And veteran black actress Regina King won an Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie for her role on ABC’s American Crime.
(Telegragh)
It is indeed a rough ride for black actors in Hollywood.
Shonda Rhimes is breaking glass ceiling. Three successful shows she runs. All shown on one night. Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder. She created Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder which has really pushed the black actress lead on television. Yeah. It’s rough but the world is changing.
Nope I mean Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy. HTGWM is one she just runs and prob writes but didn’t create.
but why does the world always have to change in order to accomodate the black man/woman. there is never a time i have heard anybody say the world is changing and now the white people can vote, go on tv, become independent nations etc. why is it always us that the world has to change for? the answer is simple, the white man is a terrorist and he dominates everyone by force (white supremacy). Its time we took and not ask to be considered. you can ask the devil for everything, you just have to man up and take. take down white supremacy.
*you cant ask the devil*
blacks a treat to white man s world you mean in 50yrs + there was no good black actor to scoop that that a white lie