Viola Davis's performance in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom explores racial injustice and the power of blues music.
Viola Davis discusses the importance of integrity, worth, and self-acceptance as a Black woman and artist.
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Viola Davis's Transformation in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Viola Davis's performance in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, based on August Wilson's play, has earned her Golden Globe and SAG award nominations. Davis portrays Ma Rainey, a real-life blues singer, and her transformation into the character is described as jaw-dropping. The film delves into racial injustice, the power of blues music, and the constant fight for dignity. Davis's portrayal, alongside the late Chadwick Boseman, showcases the depth and complexity of the characters and the racial struggles they face.
Viola Davis on Integrity and Worth
Viola Davis discusses the importance of integrity and worth, both on and off the screen. She shares her experience of feeling invisible as a Black woman and the desire for validation and protection. Through her portrayal of Ma Rainey, Davis explores the concept of worth, particularly in a culture that often erases the value and beauty of Black women. Davis's performance and understanding of Ma Rainey's fight for her worth reaffirms her own journey of self-acceptance and embracing her power as an artist.
Oprah talks with Viola Davis, the most nominated Black actress in Oscar history, about her film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. In yet another superb performance, Davis inhabits “the mother of the blues” in an adaptation of the August Wilson play. Davis reveals what Ma's struggle says about today's America and what it taught her about harnessing her own powers as a Black woman. She also shares her thoughts on working with the late Chadwick Boseman on his final film.