If there was an award for acceptance speeches, then Viola Davis would already have a cabinet full.
The actress won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in ‘Fences‘, playing 1950’s woman Rose Maxson, the wife to Denzel Washington‘s flawed patriarch Troy.
The screenplay was written by the late August Wilson, based off his Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. Wilson’s series of ten plays – called ‘The Pittsburgh Cycle‘ – chronicled the African-American experience in the 20th Century.
Davis’ speech is already been hailed as one of the best of the night / all time.
“People ask me all the time, what kind of stories do you want to tell, Viola?” she said through tears. “And I say exhume those bodies. Exhume those stories. The stories of people who dreamed big and never saw those dreams to fruition, people who fell in love, and lost.
“I became an artist, and thank God I did, because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life.
“So here’s to August Wilson, who exhumed and exalted the ordinary people.”
Viola Davis: “We are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life.” #Oscars pic.twitter.com/TjRcj3cIw2
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 27, 2017
.@violadavis gives tearful acceptance speech thanking her family: “I’m so glad that you are the foundation of my life.” #Oscars pic.twitter.com/70UvDzlhsM
— ABC News (@ABC) February 27, 2017
And basically – yeah, she made everyone cry. And probably needs an award for that, too.
Has anyone ever won an Oscar for an Oscar speech
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) February 27, 2017
find someone who looks at you the way everyone looks at Viola Davis pic.twitter.com/O3Sis8UWSO
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) February 27, 2017
Viola Davis needs to win a separate award for stunning speeches. #Oscars
— ELLEUK (@ELLEUK) February 27, 2017
Can someone just commission a book with all of @violadavis‘ acceptance speeches? Always so beautiful and eloquent.
— Rebecca Theodore (@FilmFatale_NYC) February 27, 2017
It’s Davis’ third nomination and first win, having previously been nominated for ‘Doubt‘ and ‘The Help‘.
Although, tbh:
Wouldn’t mind if Viola Davis ended her speech with “And sorry about Suicide Squad. What the hell, am I right?” #Oscars
— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) February 27, 2017
Photo: Getty / Image Group LA.
