Viola Davis

As an artist, you’ve got to see the mess. That’s what we do. We get a human being, and it’s like putting together a puzzle. And the puzzle has got to be a mixture, a multifaceted mixture of human emotions, and not all of it is going to be pretty.

Viola Davis

Because I grew up in such tight spaces, I don’t get manicures, pedicures. I’m not into cars, but I am into a fabulous house. I wanted the spiral staircase, clean sheets on the bed, to be able to take a shower.

Viola Davis

Do the work. Create the character, don’t wing it and don’t hope for an award or the Red Carpet. At the end of day the people who stay in the line the longest are the people who are good.

Viola Davis

Each character has their own challenges. The challenge to doing one scene is your whole history of who you are and your relationships, you only have this one shot.

Viola Davis

Every job I’ve ever gotten has transformed me in some way as an actor.

Viola Davis

I am not a morning person, but I always work out – always.

Viola Davis

I did everything to get food. I have stolen for food. I have jumped in huge garbage bins with maggots for food. I have befriended people in the neighborhood, who I knew had mothers who cooked three meals a day for food, and I sacrificed a childhood for food and grew up in immense shame.

Viola Davis

I don’t care if someone is new to acting or experienced in acting: you always learn something from them. It’s just like people in life – whether they’re young or middle-aged or old, you always learn something from someone.

Viola Davis

I had several teachers who inspired me, in both the public school system and the Upward Bound program. I needed several, because I lived in such abject poverty and dysfunction. And they’re still in my life today, because I consider them to be friends, actually.

Viola Davis

I think I’ve lived long enough to understand that plans really are very overrated.

Viola Davis