Viola Davis was born on August 11, 1965, in St. Matthews, South Carolina. She began her acting career in the late 1980s, gaining fame with roles in television series and films. Davis’s breakthrough role came in 2008 with her performance in “Doubt,” which earned her an Academy Award nomination. She continued to build a successful career with roles in films such as “The Help,” “Fences,” and “Widows.” Her performance in “Fences” earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.