The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.
Viola Davis Carolinian
Source
Acceptance speech, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, Los Angeles, September 20, 2015
- form
- speech
- work
- Emmy Award acceptance speech
- year
- 2015
Cite this record
“The only thing that separates women of color from anyone els…” Viola Davis. Carolina Quotes, record CQ-B6ED11EB76. https://carolinaquotes.com/quote/b6ed11eb76
More from Viola Davis
Artists and actors of color have to alter and water ourselves down for Hollywood, but I refuse to be pacified.
You know, there's one place that all of the people with the greatest potential are gathered, one place, and that's the graveyard. People ask me all the time, "What kind of stories do you want to tell Viola?" And I say, "Exhume those bodies. Exhume those stories, the stories of the people who dreamed big and never saw those dreams to fruition, people who fell in love and lost.
You know, there's one place that all of the people with the greatest potential are gathered, one place, and that's the graveyard. People ask me all the time, "What kind of stories do you want to tell Viola?" And I say, "Exhume those bodies. Exhume those stories, the stories of the people who dreamed big and never saw those dreams to fruition, people who fell in love and lost."