As a follower who’s always admired Viola Davis’s powerful performances, reading her interview at the Red Sea Film Festival was nothing short of inspiring. Her journey to creating Annalise Keating, a character that resonated with so many, is a testament to her courage and unwavering commitment to authenticity.
Viola Davis expressed that her most significant accomplishment might be the development of the groundbreaking character Annalise Keating for the legal drama thriller “How to Get Away With Murder,” during a live interview on Thursday at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The audience, filled with enthusiasm, often expressed their affection by saying, “I adore you, Viola.
Additionally, she mentioned the courage needed to challenge the dominance of traditional television norms when the program first aired a decade ago.
EbMaster shares a condensed portion from the interview, remarking on how authentic it felt, mirroring the sincerity of the actor’s on-screen portrayals.
In her original conception, the character was utterly illogical, which prompted amusement and approval from the crowd. To put it plainly, many TV characters today are confusing because they’re not grounded in reality. They’re more like a doll that can be customized to fit viewers’ preferences: tall, beautiful, and always eloquent, whether in high-fashion outfits or courtroom attire from designers like Alexander McQueen or Armani. These characters often speak at an unusually rapid pace, as seen in shows like Shondaland. The dialogue rarely reflects real-life conversations, and, well… I don’t mean to criticize, but it sometimes feels unrealistic.
As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but ponder over this intriguing topic. It seems that stories often delve into the quantity of romantic encounters, suggesting there might be women who engage in 15 such relationships in a single day. Yet, what appears to be overlooked is the essence: the ‘why’. Why do these interactions occur? What are the emotions, motivations, and experiences driving these connections? These are the questions that truly captivate me as I immerse myself in the world of cinema.
In the beginning, she bestowed upon me the persona of Annalise DeWitt. However, I found myself contemplating over the name DeWitt, and ultimately decided to alter it. The new name I chose was Annalise Keating. To be honest, she could have retained her original name, but I felt that Keating seemed more fitting, given its grandeur.
I’m particularly pleased with it because I considered it courageous of myself. I must admit, I haven’t always shown courage throughout my life, but that was an instance where I did. I faced a choice: I could simply blend in with the group of women working in TV, who typically fit a certain aesthetic for lead roles. However, I chose to stand out.
“When you become famous, you receive numerous messages from various individuals. As Mark Twain put it, you require two types of companions – those who discuss you and those who inform you about others who are discussing you. Consequently, you end up with many people sharing information about those who talk about you.
Many individuals have commented, ‘Annalise Keating doesn’t seem like a good fit for Viola, as she’s portrayed as mysterious and sensual, and that doesn’t align with our perception of Viola.’ In simpler terms, some people feel that Viola Davis is not the right choice to play Annalise Keating due to the character’s described attributes.
Sanford Meisner, a renowned acting coach, once stated: “One of the most crucial inquiries an actor can pose is ‘Why?’ Pondering ‘Why?’ can lead you on a path that might prove to be transformative.
“So, this was my mission: I needed to make an effort to shed some pounds and aim to be the type of woman who could appear on TV, though that wasn’t likely. I was around 50 years old then. It wasn’t as if I were going to have Botox done or suddenly start eating nothing but green beans.
“So, then I had to ask some questions: Why do I have to be that woman? Why does she have to walk great in heels? Why can’t I be the size I am? And why can’t all those things be true and I be on network TV? Why can’t I take my wig off? Why can’t I wear my natural hair?
Each time I inquired, “Why?” I uncovered the essence of Annalise, giving me something to build upon. This led me to strive as much as possible when working on network TV writing, aiming to portray her as a real person. Thus, understanding who Annalise Keating truly was marked the start of this endeavor.
During a phone conversation with Peter Nowalk, the creator of ‘How to Get Away With Murder’, Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, and Paul Lee from ABC Entertainment Group, I found myself expressing something unexpected because I desperately wanted the role. In the heat of the moment, I said something like this: “I won’t be a part of this show unless the character can shed her wig. The reason is, if she does, it will force them to confront the real woman beneath – the one with natural, curly hair. They’ll have to grapple with the woman behind the mask, and that’s a role I could bring to life.
Afterward, one may ponder why someone might express such a level of sexuality. However, it’s important to remember that sexuality in humans isn’t comparable to pornography. Pornography is about selling the act itself for the purpose of arousing people. It serves a specific function. On the other hand, being sexual is an expression of one’s human identity. It’s influenced by personal history, experiences, traumas, and more. It’s not something that can be done casually or without thought.
Later on, during intimate moments in my mind’s eye, I prefer scenarios that are awkward or uncomfortable. After all, who has a movie-quality camera in their bedroom, with perfectly choreographed scenes and everyone looking like they just stepped off the runway? Instead, I found myself creating a character with a complex past: bisexual, involved in extramarital affairs, married to a man who might be a killer. It was at this point that her sexual history and experiences of abuse surfaced. Enter Cicely Tyson as Ophelia Harkness, Annalise’s mother. I felt like I was constructing a world that was truthful yet fantastical, one that people would lean in to listen, and it is this authenticity that I am most proud of.
In time, when someone asked about her enduring impact, she responded: “My impact will be about making people feel less isolated. I believe there’s a profound connection between an artist and their audience in the darkened theater, sharing popcorn, Sour Patch Kids, and Diet Coke – yes, that’s what I prefer! This shared experience holds a sacred quality. The agreement is that as an artist, I won’t hide or escape from you. Instead, I will reveal the raw, real parts of myself – the aspects you might not want to show others, the private moments that could feel like the most shameful parts of your life. I aspire to encourage you to be brave enough to witness this vulnerability and acknowledge it, and I aim to have the courage to share it with you.
In addition, if I manage to accomplish this, it will leave behind a lasting mark, not merely the trophies and recognitions, but the courage and skill with which I create and share it with you.
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2024-12-14 01:46