In an exclusive interview with People magazine on Aug. 16 at the Television Academy Hall of Fame ceremony, Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis revealed the bold, unapologetic choices she made while playing Annalise Keating on How to Get Away with Murder. Her intention, she said, was to stay as “Black as I could be,” a choice she credits with defining her performance and shaping her public identity.
Davis spoke candidly about resisting the stereotypical image of a leading lady. “I took my wig off. I took my makeup off. I stayed the size I am,” she said, adding, “I stayed as Black as I could be. And my age… Everything about me was unapologetic.”
She reflected on how these deliberate decisions helped her bring Annalise to life in a way that felt authentic. “Sometimes you make choices in life — it doesn’t always land. But this landed,” Davis commented.
Breaking Boundaries with Authenticity
Davis noted that How to Get Away with Murder was pivotal in her career. “I’ve done a lot of TV, but that show… sort of just put me on the map,” she told People. She emphasized that her role as Annalise broke away from traditional expectations for women on television.
She also celebrated her Emmy win—making history as the first Black woman to earn Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. In her acceptance speech, she said, “The only thing that separates women of color from everyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.”
Davis drew attention to challenges facing older Black actresses in Hollywood. “When it comes to Black women who are over 50, then that is when [the lack of interesting roles] is problematic,” she said, describing the state of opportunity as a “vast desert.”
Despite these systemic barriers, she expressed optimism. “Women are no longer begging for a seat at the table. They’re creating their own,” Davis said, naming Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Kerry Washington, Issa Rae, Michaela Coel, Halle Berry, Keke Palmer, and even Marsai Martin among those leading the charge.