Knowing the only way out is education, even if you don’t have parents that are extraordinarily wealthy. I understand that I have to be an active participant in [my daughter’s] education in order for her to thrive in the world.
VIOLA DAVISKnowing the only way out is education, even if you don’t have parents that are extraordinarily wealthy. I understand that I have to be an active participant in [my daughter’s] education in order for her to thrive in the world.
VIOLA DAVISWhen you pray, God puts people in your life to lead you when you cannot lead yourself.
VIOLA DAVISI want my work to reflect my level of gifts and talent.
VIOLA DAVISI do believe that there are African Americans who have thick accents. My mom has a thick accent; my relatives have thick accents. But sometimes you have to adjust when you go into the world of film, TV, theatre, in order to make it accessible to people.
VIOLA DAVISI guess they say, “Necessity is the mother of invention” because you have two stark choices when you find yourself in a really desperate situation. You can either fold and cave-in to it or you can become really passionate about getting out of it.
VIOLA DAVISOrdinary people who are just kind of just going about their lives are transformed into heroes because they have the courage to put their voices out there. I think that’s a powerful message in this time of political strife.
VIOLA DAVISEach role has its own different challenges.
VIOLA DAVISIf the opportunity is not out there for you to play it, then you don’t see it.
VIOLA DAVISAnd this is what was fascinating to me about ‘The Help’; they were ordinary people who did extraordinary things.
VIOLA DAVISSometimes you see how humanity can rise above any kind of cultural ills and hate that a person’s capacity to love and communicate and forgive can be bigger than anything else.
VIOLA DAVISRelationships change us and make us grow.
VIOLA DAVISOne of the people I’ve always wanted to emulate in pursuing that dream was Meryl Streep, in terms of the different types of roles she’s been able to play and the number of different stories she’s been able to tell.
VIOLA DAVISTyler Perry’s ‘Madea Goes to Jail!’ Which, I have to tell you, of everything that I’ve ever done in my career, that’s the only thing that’s perked up the ears of my nieces and nephews. That is it, that’s done it for them. That made me a bona fide star in their eyes!
VIOLA DAVISI think sometimes you have to see a physical manifestation of your dream. Otherwise you have to hope, pray and try to conjure something in your mind to feel like it’s possible.
VIOLA DAVISThey say, ‘To serve is to love,’ and I think to serve is to heal, too.
VIOLA DAVISI really wanted to show [in fences] a marriage that is working. Not perfect, but working.
VIOLA DAVIS