Viola Davis

2009-02-19
By Sergio A. Mims

There are few young actresses in movies today who command more respect and receive more glowing reviews than Viola Davis. The Tony Award-winning actress is currently nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for her extraordinary and touching role as a desperate mother in the film, Doubt, with Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

The Rhode Island native and Julliard School of Drama graduate has appeared in nearly 50 film and television roles since 1996 and is one of the the busiest actresses working in films today with Doubt currently in release, State of Play (with Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck) coming out this Spring, and is currently in production on the thriller, Law-Abiding Citizen, with Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler

Recently EbonyJet.com had a rare opportunity to talk to Ms. Davis about her work in Doubt, her opinions about the acting profession and how she really feels about singers and rappers getting lead roles in movies.

EJ.COM: Let’s get the obvious question out of the way first, how to you feel about being nominated for an Oscar? You’re not going to say that old line Everyone says that: “It’s just an honor to be nominated.” Is that your line too?

DAVIS: Oh I am absolutely going to say that it’s an honor to be nominated. It’s an honor to be nominated absolutely. Only people on the outside don’t understand, but I’m telling you most of the actors I know can’t even get a job, especially in this climate. I mean, I know actors who can’t even make a living. They’re out there struggling, waiting tables and most never ever even work on TV or film in their entire lives. Over 95% of the profession. And the ones you do see on TV and film only represent less than 1%. And then the ones who actually get an Oscar nomination? You’re looking at a .00000001 percentile so you absolutely believe that’s it’s an honor to be nominated and if it ended here I would be happy, happy, happy. But winning would be fabulous also. (laughs)

You said once that in working with Meryl Streep, you had to bring your “A” game” with you. You felt that kind of pressure? 

Yeah, it’s terrifying. I’m going up against a 500 pound gorilla named Meryl Steep (laughs) I was terrified but it completely self generated I must add because it didn’t emanate from her. She is fantastic, couldn’t be any more wonderful and creates a totally relaxed environment. I felt like I was the outsider. I didn’t even originate the role on Broadway. I’m going into this green and even though I’ve been in the business for well over 20 years I have insecurities. But then I may have them for a second and push them to the side because I’m used to doing theater, doing eight shows a week for a year, so I just do what I do which is my craft.

You’ve been open about your background. You came from a very poor family in Rhode Island, where your father groomed and trained horses at a race track, and you said that you and your sisters would create your own plays to escape the misery of your environment. When did you did realize that acting was more than an escape and could be a real career?

Well what happened, I suppose, is what happens when you’re dating someone and you realize this is not just a sort of passing fancy. You actually begin to fall in love, all the feelings of falling in love, and wanting it to last . And I think it probably happened when I was 8 during a skit in Jenks Park in Central Falls (R.I.) and my sisters and I won some talent award at a contest and hearing the applause and being hooked. And the love affair started. And hence the commitment started as well, which is like a relationship too. The love/hate starts. (laughs) The realizing that it may not pay. A profession that most people do  not understand. Even most actors do not understand it. They don’t understand the craft, what goes into it. Sometimes I don’t even understand until I’m in it. I think that happened when I was when I was 8 years old. I fell in love with the applause. I knew I had something.

But you touched on something. I remember Billy Bob Thornton once said that every time he’s does a film he thinks it’s going to be his last. Do all actors operate with that sort of insecurity?

Absolutely! You think you’re going to be fired, that you’re going to be found out that you’re a hack and it constantly motivates you. You always operate from a point of feeling inadequate in this business. Meryl Streep feels that way. Which, once again, always surprises me when all of the stuff happens with awards and the first assumption that people make about you is that you’re getting egotistical (laughs) I mean that’s almost impossible (laughs) It’s very hard to embrace praise as a performer.

One of your more unusual roles was that of a  cop who brutally killed an entire family on an episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Most actors would have a second thoughts about doing a part like that. Are there any roles or anything that you would not do in film or play?

Oh yeah I wouldn’t get naked. No absolutely not. I wouldn’t play anything that’s sexually gratuitous. I wouldn’t play a character that was really really a stereotype. Just obviously a stereotype in terms of language, in terms of thought… I would not do it.  But I played that character in Law and Order because I thought she was interesting. That was not a character that you normally cast a black woman in, a psychopath. Why not? But you see that’s where I think black actors fall into a trap. I think that we worry too much about image instead of exploring the vast array of human behavior. And what happens is that it gives Hollywood the idea that we are limited in our experiences and they don’t see the possibilities in us.

You’re a professional actress, Julliard trained, with over 20 years of extensive experience in theater film and TV. You’ve won a Tony award and now nominated for an Oscar. So how do you feel about singers with little experience - I won’t mention any names - who keep getting lead parts in movies over more seasoned actors?

I think it’s a travesty but I understand that it’s aoccupational hazard. But I respect good talent and I recognize good talent it when I see it and I have to say that fortunately I have less of a reaction to it now as I get older. I understand the business and the goal of the business is to make money. That’s what it is, to make money so they put these rappers and singers into these movies because they appeal to the black audience but mostly because they appeal to the young white audience. And the reason is because 80% of rap and hip-hip music is consumed by young white males which is the demographic market that they usually target for TV and films, so I’ve learned to accept it in my old age (laughs). But at the end of the day I do believe that talent always wins out. I do believe that the people who stay in the line the longest are the people who have the talent. The people who are just in it for the notoriety, for the sex, for the money, whatever, they do fade away. I do believe that.

You’ve been very outspoken about Hollywood’s lack of respect and lack of roles for black actresses. Did anyone tell you that you should not  be so vocal?

Oh yeah people have. They say “Don’t say anything”, but maybe it’s just me but I don’t think what I’m saying is so controversial. But it goes beyond a lack of respect. It’s more complicated than that. If it was a lack of respect I probably would be a lot more hopeful about the business.  I think it’s a lack of imagination when it comes to us.

By the way, do you prefer working on the stage or in films and TV?

Absolutely theater because you have the chance to really develop a character. You have a long rehearsalprocess to play with the other actors and what they bring to the table, it’s great to have that journey of the run of the show, it’s great to establish a relationship with the other actors and to literally feel what works  and what doesn’t with the audience and by the end of the run you’ve discovered something completely different about your character. Oh yeah theater, hands down!

Finally what will you be thinking about when you walk up to the stage to accept your Oscar - which you will of course?

What I was thinking when I won the Tony Award is that I hyperventilate (laughs). I’m like Oprah when she said once “I don’t cry pretty”. Same with me. My nose runs, I look a mess! What I really want to do is look composed, that would be my dream.

What you’ve got to do is to think cool and steady like President Obama. What would Barack do?

Yeah that’s true! You’re absolutely right! (laughs)

Film critic, lecturer and festival consultant Sergio Mims covers all things film from the city that works, Chicago. He is a regular contributor to EbonyJet.com.