Viola Davis’s journey to becoming one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses was driven by a straightforward mantra: Embrace every role, use each as a salary and a chance to explore new characters while honing her skills.
Friday night’s Golden Gala: An Evening of Excellence featured the prestigious Cecil B. Davis gave a moving 16-minute speech when accepting the DeMille Award. He reflected on how his turbulent upbringing fueled his passion for acting as an escape and how financial necessity often influenced his choice of roles.
“If I had waited for a role that was written for me, well-crafted, I wouldn’t be standing here,” said Davis, along with Carol Burnett Award recipient Ted Danson, who was recognized for his career. Was celebrated for his achievements. Film and Television during a star-studded, black-tie gala dinner in Beverly Hills, California, just two nights before the 82nd annual Golden Globes on Sunday.
Some of the popular names in attendance included Carol Burnett, Jane Fonda, Anthony Anderson, Steve Guttenberg, and singer-songwriter Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. This marks the first time that the Globes have hosted a separate event dedicated to both awards.
Davis said she could not wait for the right role, especially as a “dark-skinned black woman with a broad nose and big lips”.
“So I took it for the money,” said Davis, who won praise for charming roles in films such as “Fences,” “The Woman King,” “The Help” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” as well as TV appearances. But also to the audience through the legal thriller drama “How to Get Away with Murder”.
“I don’t think poverty is really the answer to craft,” she said. “I don’t think there is any nobility in poverty.”
Meryl Streep presented the award to Davis, whom she called a pure artist who “delivers the truth every time.” The two actors worked together in the 2008 film “Doubt”, where Streep was first impressed by Davis, whom she called her “favorite actor in the world”.
The DeMille Award is presented to Hollywood’s greatest talents. Previous recipients include Tom Hanks, Jeff Bridges, Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman, Streep, Barbra Streisand, and Sidney Poitier.
When Danson accepted his award, he congratulated Davis, calling him a “wonderful actor”.
“It’s such a pleasure to be in the same room with you,” said Danson, a three-time Globes winner who has been on TV since breaking out as Boston bartender Sam Malone on the NBC comedy “Cheers.” Other credits include “The Good Place,” “Mr. Mayor,” “Fargo,” “CSI” and “CSI: Cyber,” “Damages” and “Baker.”
Danson is currently starring in Netflix’s “A Man on the Inside”, which earned him his first nomination since 2008 and 13th overall.
“Bia Iftikhar, who does his hair on set, said it best: ‘Ted sets the tone,'” said his wife, actor Mary Steenburgen, who presented Danson with the Carol Burnett Award, inaugurated in 2019. Was. Previous recipients include Norman Lear, Ryan Murphy and Ellen DeGeneres. The first was Burnett herself.
Danson and Steenbergen appeared together in a few projects, including “Pontiac Moon,” “Gulliver’s Travels” and “It Must Be Love.”
Steenbergen said, “He is so sweet and enjoys acting so much that all of us who work hard long hours away from our families get to work on the set dictated by his kindness.” “As his wife, I felt very proud to see the respect and love for Ted.”
Danson exchanged “I love yous” with Burnett, showing mutual appreciation. He thanked “Cheers” co-creators Glenn and Les Charles, as well as the many writers, producers and actors who surprised him at the event.
“I feel very grateful,” he said. “I am truly…the luckiest man on earth.”
Davis quipped, “Little Viola is screaming,” referring to how happy her younger self would be over the actor’s journey from a poor childhood to Hollywood stardom.
“She’s standing behind me and she’s pulling on my dress,” said Davis, who achieved EGOT status after winning a Grammy last year for best audio book, narration and storytelling for the recording of her memoir “Finding Me.” Had done.
“She’s wearing the same red rubber boots she wears come rain or shine because they feel ‘pure,'” she added. “What she’s whispering is this: ‘I told you I was a wizard.'”