Viola Davis shares why she believes the big screen moment is so huge
In the opening scene of their new movie Widows, Liam Neeson and Viola Davis, portraying a married couple, share a kiss while in bed.
Speaking with BBC, Oscar-winner Viola Davis spoke about the significance of the moment. Diversity School condensed the interview and shared it to Twitter:
"I'm dark, I'm 53, I'm in my natural hair – I'm in bed with Liam Neeson. And he's not my slave owner. I'm not a prostitute. We simply are a couple in love. I've never seen it before." pic.twitter.com/0vtaUM8338
— Diversity School (@DiverseSchool) November 10, 2018
Davis has been at the forefront of the push for more inclusion and diversity in mainstream Hollywood. She is the first black actress to be nominated for three Oscars and won one her supporting role in Fences. She is also the first black actress to have won an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony.
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Directed by Oscar-winner Steve McQueen and written by Gillian Flynn of ‘Gone Girl’ fame, Widows is already receiving critical acclaim.
Of her and Neeson’s on-screen relationship, Davis says “Most critics, most cinephiles, will probably not even acknowledge that as anything novel.”
“They’ll say, ‘so what? It’s not making a political statement.”
“Here I am, I’m dark, I’m 53, I’m in my natural hair... and I’m with Liam Neeson. I’m with what America would consider to be a ‘hunk’.”
“He’s not my slave owner. I’m not a prostitute. It’s not trying to make any social or political statements. We’re simply a couple in love.”
“And what struck me in the narrative is that I’d never seen it before. And you’re not gonna see it this year, you’re not going to see it next year, you’re not going to see it the year after that.”
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“So if it’s not making anything, then why isn’t it done? If we are indeed committed to inclusion and diversity, and we actually do see people of color as the same as us, as our counterparts, then why can’t you consider a character that maybe is not ethnically specific, why can’t you consider someone like me for it? If it’s not a big deal? Why hasn’t it been done?”
“Sometimes I feel like the biggest political statements are the simplest.”
Widows hits theaters this month, catch the trailer below:
Will you be going to see Widows? Let us know in the comments
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