Viola Davis on the Power of ‘Widows’ Portrayal of Interracial Love

Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis talked about playing the lead role of Veronica Rawlings in the 2018 film Widows and the level of vulnerability she took to the part to portray a dark-skinned woman with natural hair in an interracial marriage.

In addition to a mixed-race love affair, Widows is also important for diversity because it is a female-driven heist story starring women from several ethnic backgrounds including Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki and Cynthia Erivo.

In an exclusive bonus clip obtained by EBONY.com, Davis talks about what it meant to play Veronica and how the Oscar-winning director Steven McQueen wanted her to wear her natural hair in the film because of the lack of representation in movies.

“At what point in the history of cinema have you seen someone who looked like me and someone who looks like Liam Nesson in bed together, kissing, romantic, in love, married?” the actress asked.

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She continued, “I mean my skintone. I mean my hair, that was a big thing with Steve McQueen. He said, ‘I know that woman. I see her in the airport. I see her with the Irish dude who looks like Liam Nesson. I see her all the time. I just haven’t seen her in American cinema and it’s time we introduce her.'”

Widows is available on Digital now and will arrive on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on Feb 5.