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Home • Oscars

Oscars 2017: Viola Davis Wins Best Supporting Actress For 'Fences,' Delivers Emotional Speech

Davis' incredible turn as Rose Maxson in the Oscar-nominated film was one of the most talked about of the year.
Oscars 2017: Viola Davis Wins Best Supporting Actress For 'Fences,' Delivers Emotional Speech
ESSENCE
By Sydney Scott · Updated October 26, 2020

Viola Davis is taking home the gold!

During Sunday night’s Academy Awards, Davis won her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Rose Maxson in the film adaption of August Wilson’s play, Fences.

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The actress’ role was one of the most talked about of the year, with Davis even joking about her character’s intense monologue with Jimmy Kimmel, “You know, that was my snot. And, you know, everyone talks about my snot.”

Denzel Washington also received a Best Actor nomination for his role as Troy Maxson in the film. Fences earned additional nominations for Best Adaptation and Best Picture.

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Giving a powerful speech, Davis accepted her award, saying, “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. I became an artist because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life.”

 

TOPICS:  Viola Davis