Interviewing Viola Davis is one of those moments in my career that I will never forget.
Its because I left our 15 minutes together feeling inspired about being a woman of color.
And the moment was so powerful and filled with #blackgirlmagic.
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Yes, they’re following the plotline with anticipation.
Personally, I’ve watched and admired Viola’s talent for years.
It’s a reminder that being myself is enough.
Jason LaVeris /Getty Images
Yes, and so much more.
Shes a role model for every woman pursuing a dream, and she embraces that responsibility.
I suffered from low self-esteem for much of my life.
I feel that confidence in womenespecially young girls of colorbut women in general is so important.
It is so important for us to arm ourselves and become powerful at a very young age.
My moms biggest beauty tip is confidence, she says.
You just size them up immediately, so I think it speaks volumes to work on the inner.
It was her lack of shoes that gave it away.
Yes, she did our interview barefoot because her feet hurt.
The heel struggle is real!
Get ready to feel totally inspired!
Her advice for young, aspiring actresses:
“Dive.
My whole thing is to go for it.
Its not necessarily in the outcome.
Your whole life will be in the process.
So, you might as well go for it.
What do you want?
What do you want your life to be?
What do you want your testimony to be?
Go for it!”
“Listen, I dont watchHow to Get Away With Murderevery week.
I shoot it, I dont watch it.
Because when I watch it, Im only aware of how I sound…how I look.
I think the point is just going for it.”
I got the 20 percent covered.
I run, I do weights.
Im like every other woman.
Id love to be 10 pounds or 20 pounds lighter.
If Im not, Im OK with that, too.
Im good as long as Im healthy."
On wearing wigs:
“People absolutely treat you differently when you have your natural hair.
I remember I cut all my hair off, and Im wearing my short fro.
So I walked out of my hotel.
And I walked to get my extensions put in, and I came back to the same hotel.
I got so much attention.
What she learned by turning 50:
“Its given me great courage.
Im finally just starting to get it.
I thought there was some big answer in life that I had to do something or be something else.
to make it be a black girl, I have to sound different.
All I have to do is be me.
All I have to do is feel significant.
Then I realized everybody fails.
Its about living my authentic life, living authentically.
I get one shot at it.”
And the last thing she Googled:
“Probably myself.
I Google myself about 15 times a day, and thats not even because Im into myself.
Im like, “What are people saying about me?”
you could learn more about the Vaseline Healing Project in this video featuring Viola.
