Viola Davis receives lifetime achievement award at Golden Globes gala: “This is the first award I was told that I won that made me cry”

VIOLA Davis was presented with the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in entertainment at the inaugural Golden Gala: An Evening of Excellence on Friday (Jan 3), ahead of the Golden Globes today (Jan 5).

"This is the first award I was told that I won that made me cry," Davis, 59, told USA TODAY before receiving the statuette. "Little Viola showed up who just never could imagine that she could evolve into this life, into this career. I just feel incredibly grateful today."

Fellow Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Meryl Streep presented Davis with the award, a nod to their professional connection after working together on the 2008 film Doubt. Davis said Streep’s involvement added "to the magic" of the moment.

Davis has earned critical acclaim for her powerful performances across both film and television. Some of her defining roles include her Oscar-winning portrayal of Rose Maxson in Fences, for which she also won a Tony Award on Broadway. She became the first African American woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder. Additionally, her performances in films like The Help, Widows, and Doubt have solidified her as one of the most respected actresses of her generation, known for bringing depth and humanity to every character she portrays.

When Davis took the stage to accept the honor, she became the only speaker at the event who did not use a teleprompter. Instead, she shared a 16-minute speech reflecting on her childhood struggles and the perseverance that led to her Hollywood success.

Davis spoke candidly about the hardships she faced growing up, including being a "bedwetter every single day" and attending school in "the same clothes that were just soaked with urine." "My life just didn’t make sense," she said. But she found refuge in her imagination, describing how "magic" allowed her to escape. "I could teleport, I can take myself out of this worthless world and relieve myself of it at times. I could go to a place where I can belly laugh, where I can have fun."

She also credited her ability to "see people" for helping her bring to life "characters that are dead, that nobody cares about, no one loves." Drawing on her personal memories, Davis made these characters resonate with audiences.

Reflecting on her career, Davis acknowledged that at times, she took roles for financial reasons. "I had seen too much death and despair to believe there was 'nobility in poverty,'" she said. As a "dark-skinned black woman with a wide nose and big lips," she noted that the roles available to her often reflected societal struggles.

Davis ended her speech with a powerful message, saying the only two people one truly owes anything to are their 6-year-old self and their 80-year-old self. "Little Viola is squealing," she said. "And what she's whispering is, 'I told you I was a magician.'"