Biographic - Sunday March 5, 2017 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

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Born in St. Matthews, South Carolina, on August 11, 1965, Viola Davis was raised in Central Falls, Rhode Island. She attended the young people's school for the performing arts in Warwick before majoring in theater at Rhode Island College. After graduating, she spent four years at Julliard. She made her movie debut with a minor role in 1996's "The Substance of Fire" and appeared in numerous TV Shows including NYPD Blue" and "Judging Amy." In 2001, she won a Tony award and a drama desk award for her portrayal of Tonya in "King Hedley II." subsequent theater awards have recognized her performances in "Intimate Apparel" and "Fences." Viola's big breakthrough came with the 2008 screen adaptation of "Doubt" for which she earned great awards acclaim, including a best-supporting actress Oscar nomination. She received her second academy award nomination for her performance in 2011's "The Help" in 2015, her starring role in TV's "How to Get Away With Murder" made her the first black woman to win a primetime Emmy award for outstanding lead actress in a Drama Series. In 2016, she produced and starred in the courtroom drama "Custody" played the ruthless government official Amanda Waller in "Suicide Squad" and reprised the role of Rose Lee Maxson in the film adaptation of "Fences." Her performance in the latter was honored when she became the first black woman to receive a Third Oscar Nomination.

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