Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis offered a humble response when asked about her legendary status in Hollywood during the Los Angeles premiere of her new film G20 on March 27.
The acclaimed performer, who holds the prestigious EGOT status, quickly dismissed the "greatest of all time" distinction. "I don't deal with that. I don't feel like I'm the greatest of all time," Davis stated at the TCL Chinese Theatre premiere.
The 59-year-old star emphasized her commitment to viewing fellow actors as equals rather than subordinates. "When I come on a set, I see them as peers," she explained. "I don't feel like I'm the great Buddha, the great actress Buddha in the sky and you are all minions that have to learn from me. I learn from them."
In G20, set to release on Prime Video on April 10, Davis portrays U.S. President Danielle Sutton in an action-packed thriller. The role required her to showcase both leadership and physical prowess as her character protects world leaders during a terrorist attack at the G20 Summit.
Speaking about the empowering aspects of her latest role, Davis highlighted how it challenged traditional perspectives on women's capabilities. "I love feeling like my body was capable as a woman," she shared, noting how the role moved beyond typical focus on male desirability to showcase strength and self-protection.
The actress, who recently received the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Gala, has consistently used her platform to advocate for meaningful representation in Hollywood. During the G20 premiere, she reinforced this message: "We wanted to make a film that showed that there is no limit, no obstacles in what I am capable of doing. As a woman, as a woman of color, and as a woman of a certain age, this is a testament to our ability."
Davis's approach to her craft remains rooted in collaboration, citing her belief in ensemble work as a driving force behind her acting career. This philosophy has helped create comfortable working environments with her co-stars throughout her distinguished career.