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Viola Davis

Viola Davis

Birthday: August 11
Birthplace: St. Matthews, South Carolina

More about Viola Davis at:

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Celebrated actress Viola Davis portrays alluring, tough and morally compromised law professor Annalise Keating in the ABC legal thriller How to Get Away with Murder.

The two-time Tony winner and two-time Oscar nominee is widely recognized for her work in such notable films as The Help and Doubt. Davis may also be seen in such popular television series as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and United States of Tara.

Davis said that she loves the fact that Murder's Annalise is "mysterious" and that viewers will not easily discern exactly who she is early on in the series.

Celebrated actress Viola Davis portrays alluring, tough and morally compromised law professor Annalise Keating in the ABC legal thriller How to Get Away with Murder.

The two-time Tony winner and two-time Oscar nominee is widely recognized for her work in such notable films as The Help and Doubt. Davis may also be seen in such popular television series as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and United States of Tara.

Davis said that she loves the fact that Murder's Annalise is "mysterious" and that viewers will not easily discern exactly who she is early on in the series.

“She’s messy. She’s a woman. She’s sexual. She’s vulnerable," she continued. "I feel extremely fortunate that I am alive and still active, and this role came to me at this point in my life.”

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Awards & Nominations

5 Nominations | 1 Emmy
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series - 2019
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series - 2018
  • Nominee
  • Viola Davis, as Annalise Keating
  • Scandal
  • "Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself"
  • ABC
  • ABC Studios
    •
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - 2017
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series - 2016
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series - 2015

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

Viola Davis
Viola Davis
Viola Davis speaks onstage at the 71st Emmy Awards.
Genesis Tennon and Viola Davis in the audience at the 71st Emmy Awards.
Viola Davis on the red carpet at the 71st Emmy Awards.
Viola Davis on stage at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon arrive at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards
Julius Tennon and Viola Davis on the red carpet at the 2016 Primetime Emmys.
Viola Davis accepts her award at the 67th Emmy Awards.
Viola Davis presents an award at the 67th Emmy Awards.
Viola Davis on the red carpet at the 67th Emmy Awards.
Viola Davis backstage at the 66th Emmys.
Julianna Margulies (l) of The Good Wife accepts an award from Viola Davis at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Viola Davis (l) and Debra Messing (r) at the 66th Emmys.
Viola Davis of How to Get Away with Murder arrives at the 66th Emmy Awards.
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Viola Davis
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Viola Davis

Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AXN
Viola Davis
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Viola Davis

Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AXN
Viola Davis speaks onstage at the 71st Emmy Awards.
Camera

Viola Davis speaks onstage at the 71st Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Genesis Tennon and Viola Davis in the audience at the 71st Emmy Awards.
Camera

Julius Tennon and Viola Davis in the audience at the 71st Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Viola Davis on the red carpet at the 71st Emmy Awards.
Camera

Viola Davis on the red carpet at the 71st Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Viola Davis on stage at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.
Camera

Viola Davis on stage at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.

Invision/AP
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon arrive at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards
Camera

Viola Davis and Julius Tennon arrive at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Julius Tennon and Viola Davis on the red carpet at the 2016 Primetime Emmys.
Camera

Julius Tennon and Viola Davis on the red carpet at the 2016 Primetime Emmys. 

Invision/AP
Viola Davis accepts her award at the 67th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Viola Davis accepts her award at the 67th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Viola Davis presents an award at the 67th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Viola Davis presents an award at the 67th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Viola Davis on the red carpet at the 67th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Viola Davis on the red carpet at the 67th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Camera

Kerry Washington (Scandal), Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder) and Ellen Pompeo (Grey's Anatomy).

Viola Davis backstage at the 66th Emmys.
Camera

Viola Davis backstage at the 66th Emmys.

Invision/AP
Julianna Margulies (l) of The Good Wife accepts an award from Viola Davis at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Julianna Margulies (l) of The Good Wife accepts an award from Viola Davis at the 66th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Viola Davis (l) and Debra Messing (r) at the 66th Emmys.
Camera

Viola Davis (l) and Debra Messing (r) at the 66th Emmys.

Invision/AP
Viola Davis of How to Get Away with Murder arrives at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Viola Davis of How to Get Away with Murder arrives at the 66th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP

In The News

Viola Davis
September 08, 2023

Emmy Moments: Viola Davis

March 24, 2020
Hope, Not Tropes
Billy Porter, Emilia Clarke, and Angela Bassett
September 11, 2019
Presenters Announced for 71st Emmy Awards
February 09, 2018
Finding Truth In Madness
October 06, 2015
Clear History
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