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Viola Davis

2024 Speaker
Viola Davis

VIOLA DAVIS is a critically revered, award-winning actress, producer, and New York Times best-selling author. She is the first black actress to win two Tony Awards (Fences & King Hedley II), an Oscar (Fences), and an Emmy (How to Get Away with Murder). She also achieved EGOT status by winning a Grammy for the audiobook recording of her memoir Finding Me. Davis was most recently seen portraying Nanisca in The Woman King.  In 2021, Davis received an Oscar nomination for her transformative performance as Ma Rainey in Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. She also won a SAG award for the role and received a Golden Globe Award nomination and Critic’s Choice Award nomination. Davis received 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, and 3 Emmy Awards, in addition to becoming the first African American actress to receive the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for How to Get Away with Murder.  In 2016, Davis was seen in the highly anticipated Suicide Squad. In 2012, Davis and her husband founded production company, JuVee, with its focus being to give a voice to the voiceless through strong, impactful, and culturally relevant narratives. The Los Angeles-based and artist-driven company produces film, television, and digital content across all of entertainment. A graduate of The Julliard School, Davis received an honorary doctorate during its 109th Commencement Ceremony and she also holds an honorary doctorate of fine arts degree from her alma mater, Rhode Island College. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. @violadavis