VIOLA DAVIS is more than the iconic characters—a mother, maid, wife, First Lady, and warrior queen—we have seen on screen. In a world that often deems Black women invisible, the explosive and pressure-filled eruptions, also known as her life, brought a diamond to the surface. No challenge has broken or ever will break her.
Story by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
Photography by Keith Major
Written instructions accompanying the invitation to the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios were clear: “No photographs.” The unspoken rules—such as, “Act like you’ve been somewhere before”—not so much. When I bump into Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham during the cocktail reception, I breathe deeply and make small talk. When I see Beyoncé and Jay-Z at dinner, I smile pleasantly and resist the urge to ask for a selfie. When chatting with Anthony Anderson, I laugh, but not too loud. When I spot Halle Berry, Maxwell and Michael Ealy across the venue, I know not to stare. But with Viola Davis, I couldn’t resist; the rules were dismissed.
It was my first introduction to the incomparable actor, who has an Emmy, two Tonys, an Oscar, and six SAG Awards to her name. In a room of stars among stars, Viola and her husband, Julius Tennon, were the ones who made me giddy. I pounced on them, eager and hard.
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