Viola Davis Talks Childhood Racism, Playing Michelle Obama

Viola Davis: Afro Chic For Los Angeles Times Magazine!

Viola Davis had firsthand experience to draw on when it came to playing a maid working in the racist 1960s.

See what the actress revealed to Vogue’s Andre Leon Talley including her thoughts on playing U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama on film.

On dealing with racism as a child:
“I have stories of being spit on. You have to realize I was in a predominantly white culture … And third grade was the worst because every day after school I would wait at the door and the bell would ring. And as soon as the bell rang I ran as fast as I could from the front door to my house, which was at least a mile away, because I would have eight to nine boys with sticks, bricks, anything they could find, who were ready to kill me.”

On how the finally bullying stopped:
“I finally told my mother. She said, ‘Viola, I want you to take my crochet and needle and you put it in your pocket and if they stop you again you tell them you’re gonna [stab] ‘em.’”

On how it shaped her attitude and career:
“Having it hard made me build so much character … You have to actually say, ‘Is the world going to define me or am I going to define myself.’”

On tackling Michelle Obama on film:
“Absolutely, if I thought it was relevant and correct. I always like stories where you see human beings in struggle.”