Viola Davis made history this past weekend as the first black woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama. But for Davis, the award is so much more than a personal accomplishment or a golden statue to add to the mantle.
"It’s not just the award. It's what it's going to mean to young girls -- young brown girls, especially. When they saw a physical manifestation of a dream, I felt like I had fulfilled a purpose," she told Variety magazine.
Since winning the award, the star has received an outpouring of love and support on social media. The memorable moment also spawned plenty of think pieces (like this one by Ashley Ford at Elle), furthering the discussion of diversity in movies, TV and the media in general.
Davis, who's been in the business professionally for 27 years, is no doubt the perfect symbol of a hardworking woman in the business. "I'm the journeyman actor that you saw in one scene here, two scenes there. I’ve been eking out a living doing theater, Broadway, Off Broadway, film supporting roles, that I’m just excited to be a part of the conversation.”
Now a veteran, the "How to Get Away with Murder" star and self-proclaimed "real O.G." hopes her success can inspire others.
"I’ve learned so much about myself and what it means to be an actor. By going to the unemployment line, by going to the theater and doing your two lines," she told the magazine. "Somewhere in the midst of that, you begin to discover what kind of actor you are and what kind of person you are."
To read Davis' entire interview, head over to Variety.com.
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Emmys 2015
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