Viola Davis โขCredits Self-Reflection for Enhanced Fulfillment After 60
LOS ANGELES – Actress โViola โขDavis says she’sโค found a โnew level โคof peace and self-acceptanceโ since โขturning 60, attributing it to a shift in focus from external expectations โฃto internal motivations. Inโ a โขrecent interview, Davis โขdetailed how questioning societal โpressures surrounding appearance promptedโ a deeper โunderstanding of โฃherโค characters and, ultimately,โ herself.
Davis, known for her transformativeโข roles โin โprojects like “How to get Away with Murder” and “Theโข Help,” explainedโ that she initially felt compelled to drastically alter her appearance when first cast as Annalise Keating.She felt pressure to โconform to โขa specific image – losing weight,changing her gait,and altering her physique. However,she ultimately challenged those impulses by askingโข “why?” โThis self-inquiry,she says,unlocked a more profound connection to her work and a greater โsense of personal freedom.
“I’ve โฃalways discovered โthe heart of my characters by asking,’Why?'” Davis shared. “Whenโฃ Iโ was handed Annalise Keating,I said,’She’s sexy,she’s mysterious.’ I’m used to playing womenโค who โขgotta gain 40 pounds and wear an apron,” she continued. “So, I said, ‘Oh God, I gotta โlose weight. I gotta learn toโฃ walkโ like Kerry Washington in โheels. I gotta lose my belly.’ And then I asked myself, ‘Well, why do I have โฃto do all that?'”
Davis’s comments resonate with a broader cultural conversation about aging, particularly for women in โขthe entertainmentโ industry, where pressure โฃto โขmaintain a โคyouthful appearance remains intense. Her willingness to question these โฃnorms offers โขa powerful message about self-acceptance and prioritizing internal validation over external expectations. As โDavis continues to takeโฃ on challenging roles, her newfound outlook promises to inform โher work and inspire audiences to embrace authenticity at every stage of life.
