Vanity Fair Meet the Nominees: Viola Davis
"Doubt" offered Viola Davis the chance to work with her heroine (Meryl Streep), chew the scenery, and walk the red carpet.
Published February 2009
Article Link: http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2009/02/meet-the-nominees-viola-davis.html
Well before Viola Davis's Oscar-nominated performance as Mrs. Miller in Doubt introduced her to the world, she had already earned a reputation as an actor's actor. From her eight years of training (four at Juilliard) and award-winning theatrical work (she won a Tony in 2001 for King Hedley II, and a Drama Desk for the off-Broadway play Intimate Apparel) to her vast television performances, including a recurring role on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, Davis consistently and enthusiastically focuses on "the work." Her commitment to her craft--which led her to write "dozens of pages" of back-story she created for less than 10 minutes of screen time in Doubt--has made her a favorite of directors like Steven Soderbergh, with whom she has made four films to date.