On Monday April 24, 2023, Viola Davis was awarded the 48th Chaplin Award. This award is such a prestigious award that has been given to so many talented actors since 1972.
This year it was Viola’s turn to receive her well deserved flowers. In attendance to honor Viola, were her close friends and family. Friends and presenters such as Meryl Streep, Jayme Lawson, Jessica Chastain, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and George C. Wolfe. All with raving reviews of Viola and beautiful anecdotes from times that they’ve shared with her. Let me walk you through some of the presenters’ love notes to Viola.
Jayme Lawson who worked on “The Women King” with Viola says that working with Viola is getting the opportunity to “dine in her artistry”. As many of us who have seen Viola in action, I hope that we can all agree that she kills every role she plays. While working on “The Women King”, Jayme learned from Viola to “Never think yourself more important than the work”. Which I believe is valuable advice that many of us can take on to our own careers.
We all know Meryl Streep from all of the many iconic roles that she has played like Miranda in “The Devil Wears Prada”, Margaret in “Iron Lady”, and Sister Aloysius in “Doubt”. While shooting “Doubt” Meryl and Viola grew a close friendship. As Meryl honores Viola for her 48th Chaplin Award she says that “Viola is a miracle. She is one of the greatest actors you will ever see and she’s here for her talent, her hard work, and her technique, and luck which is the big one, and mostly for her humanity. A great artist has a great way to show what it means to be human.I am so happy that I know her. You changed Hollywood, respect, love you!”
Next up was Jessica Chastain. Jessica has been making a name for herself on the big screens but is now taking in Viola’s footsteps and making her way to Broadway. She shares that she see’s Viola as such an inspiration and that she has a photo of her in her Broadway dressing room for “A Doll’s House” to keep her inspired. Jessica also says “Not enough time in a lifetime to talk about Viola. Viola has told the truth and held people accountable. Paved the way for many women in Hollywood. A film like “A Women King” can now be made in Hollywood because of Viola. She set an example that she has followed in her career. This woman king is a true queen” says Jessica and she is completely right!
Another presenter was film Director Gina Prince-Bythewood. Gina directed the glorious and inspirational film “A Women King”. She was chosen by Viola to direct this film and together they created a masterpiece. Gina says “She made me look like a genius. Viola loves the mess. She goes there and embraces it. She is our tour guide to go where we don’t want to go on our own. A grace not often shown to us as black women, as artists to show our mess especially not on screen.She elevates everyone she is in a scene with. You don’t direct with Viola you create with Viola”.
Lastly, we have George C. Wolfe. George directed Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. A Netflix film that rated 97% tomatoes with Viola playing Ma Rainey. George says that Viola is an “Unbelievable power, as her ancestors watch her. When you are able to bathe in her work she is also a great healer.” Viola continues to heal many of us on and off the screen. I am most certainly happy to see her live her ancestors’ wildest dreams.
As Viola continues to amaze all of us, I will continue to take notes as we route for our Queen. Queen Viola is and will always be one of the best to ever do it!
