Viola Davis on Her Historic Emmy Win: "We Were All Winners That Night"

Viola Davis, who became the first Black woman to win an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama for her role on "How to Get Away With Murder," recently appeared on "Ellen" to discuss her historic Emmy win.



Davis' historic win was marked with an unforgettable speech. She started her speech by saying this quote from Harriet Tubman: "In my mind, I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me, over that line. But I can't seem to get there no how. I can't seem to get over that line." She admitted that her husband was a little nervous when she started her speech off this way, but he was relieved when he found out she was quoting Harriet Tubman.

"I did want to mark the fact that it was the first African American to win in the Lead Actress category. I love that Harriet Tubman quote; I thought it was so progressive," Davis said when Ellen asked if she had prepared an acceptance speech.

Ellen Emmys Viola Davis