5 Brilliant Viola Davis Movies to Check Out Before G20 Premieres

It's safe to say that Viola Davis is one of the most powerful and versatile actresses in Hollywood. Throughout her long career, she has delivered unforgettable performances in a wide range of genres, cementing her status as a true screen icon. Whether she's playing a fierce mother, or a grieving widow, Davis brings a unique blend of raw emotion and strength to every role she takes on.

Now, Davis is about to deliver another iconic performance of a pretty powerful character in an upcoming film called G20. This April, we will see the actress play the President, and she will have to recuse herself from a difficult situation. I think this little bit of information is enough to get you all excited for the premiere of the movie, right?

But until that happens, let's revisit some of Davis’ finest works. Here are five brilliant movies with the actress you simply must check out.

1. Fences (2016)

There's no way you haven't come across the movie's heartbreaking moments on Instagram or other social media. Directed by Denzel Washington and based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by August Wilson, Fences features Viola Davis as Rose Maxson, the wife of Troy (played by Washington himself), a former baseball player turned garbage collector who struggles with his past and his role as a father.

Davis is incredible in her portrayal of this multi-layered female character, so no wonder she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role.

2. The Help (2011)

Another iconic film in which Davis plays a role that empowers women to stand up to racism and all forms of harassment. In The Help, which explores the relationship between black maids and their white employers in 1960s Mississippi, she plays Aibileen Clark, a black maid who, thanks to some really good people, becomes the voice of the oppressed. Fans still think Davis should have won an Oscar for this role.

“I thought that Viola Davis did a fantastic job in The Help and should have won that year. She is good at everything that she does. Meryl Streep is a great actress, don't get me wrong, but she didn't deserve to win for The Iron Lady and I sometimes feel that she is only nominated because she is Meryl Streep,” Redditor 18bluefilm said.

3. Widows (2018)

Directed by Steve McQueen, Widows is a gripping heist thriller that combines elements of political intrigue, action and emotional drama. Viola Davis stars as Veronica Rawlins, the widow of a deceased criminal mastermind who takes it upon herself to finish the job her husband started in order to get even with a dangerous crime lord. Davis' portrayal of Veronica is both tough and vulnerable, as is always the case with her roles.

4. Doubt (2008)

Ironically, Davis stars alongside Meryl Streep in this 2008 film. Doubt is a tense drama set in a Catholic school in 1964 that explores issues of morality, suspicion, and the gray areas of faith and doubt. Davis plays Mrs. Miller, a mother dealing with the possibility that her son may have been sexually abused by a priest played by Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Despite her relatively limited screen time, Davis delivers a powerful performance. Her emotional depth and vulnerability in the role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

5. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)

Based on the play by August Wilson, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is a vivid portrayal of the struggles faced by Black musicians in the 1920s. Viola Davis takes on the role of Ma Rainey, the “Mother of the Blues,” a powerful and larger-than-life figure in the music industry.

Her performance is magnetic, capturing both the strength and the vulnerability (yet again) of a woman fighting for control over her music and her legacy. The film is a celebration of Black art, and Davis’ portrayal of Ma Rainey is truly unforgettable.