Viola Davis on that Stunning Scene in HTGAWM: "I Was Adamant About It"

Viola Davis, star of ABC's How to Get Away with Murder, sat down with Ellen to talk about her role as Annalise Keating.  The role is a departure from the most visible characters we've seen Viola play.


Ellen asked her about the numerous sexual scenes in the show and she said, "It's been very liberating for me because usually when people see me doing these sexual scenes they say, "Is that Aibleen Clark from The Help?" Yeah, it's me!"

A few weeks ago, Davis riveted audiences with a scene in which Keating removes her makeup and wig while getting ready for bed. Davis went on to explain why she did it:

I was so adamant about it. I was so adamant about it. I said, Listen, she can't go to bed with a wig on. She cannot be in that bedroom with a wig on because women don't go to bed with their wigs on. I said a whole portion of women out there are marginalized. I want to be a real woman. Let's go for it. I'm a character actress. But listen by the time we got to the scene with all the crew members around me--taking my wig off and my makeup. I said ok maybe I shoulda rethought this. I said can I keep my lashes on? 

Davis is clearly serious about her craft and career, but she's also got a great sense of humor

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Kimberly Foster is the founder and editor of For Harriet. Email or Follow @KimberlyNFoster

Ellen entertainment How to Get Away with Murder interviews television Viola Davis