Viola Davis

August 11, 1965 • St. Matthews, South Carolina, USA

First Black Woman EGOT, How to Get Away with Murder

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Born: August 11, 1965  |  Birthplace: St. Matthews, South Carolina  |  Famous For: First Black Woman to Win EGOT

The Lioness Who Conquered Every Stage

Viola Davis stands as the first Black woman to achieve an EGOT — Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Born in a sharecropper’s shack in rural South Carolina, she clawed her way to the peak of every entertainment medium through raw talent, ferocious work ethic, and a Leo’s unshakeable belief in her own power.

Leo Legacy

  • Oscar winner: Fences (2017) — a performance of devastating emotional truth
  • Emmy winner: First Black actress to win Best Drama Actress for How to Get Away with Murder
  • Tony Award: King Hedley II on Broadway
  • Author: Finding Me memoir became an instant bestseller

Davis embodies Leo’s greatest gift: the courage to be fully, unapologetically yourself.

“You cannot win an Emmy for roles that simply don’t exist.”

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