Viola Davis on G20, Women in Action, and Owning Her Story: “I Stay in My Lane”
Key Highlights:
Ahead of the much-anticipated release of her new film G20 on Amazon Prime Video, Oscar-winning actor Viola Davis sat down with The Quint to talk about her career, identity, and the evolving landscape of women-led action films.
“What Women Bring to Action Is Heart”
When asked about the changing tide for women in action films, Davis said the shift has been gradual — but powerful.
“I saw the shift really early on in my life with Sigourney Weaver in Alien. That was one of the first big surprises. Some might say Gena Rowlands in Gloria, but it was sort of a slow trickle.”
Davis added that women bring a different emotional register to action cinema:
“It’s a beautiful surprise… I think what we bring to the action genre is heart. Not that there isn’t heart in Die Hard — I’m a big Air Force One, Die Hard girl — but it’s a different definition of a hero that we bring to the genre.”
On Choosing Her Projects: “I Always Bring My Story With Me”
Davis explained that she’s intentional about the roles she takes on — prioritizing stories that reflect the world and offer the audience a broad spectrum of humanity.
“I think I always bring my story with me, wherever I go,” she shared. “I don’t try to be like anyone else, I stay in my lane.”
It’s a philosophy that’s informed her most powerful performances — from Fences to The Woman King — and now, to G20, where she plays a U.S. President forced to confront international crisis and moral dilemmas.
Living Authentically: “I Embrace My Age, My Race, My Sex”
In one of the interview’s most moving moments, Davis reflected on her commitment to authenticity:
“I embrace my age, I embrace my race, I embrace my sex. I’m not trying to water it down or filter it in order to fit the larger narrative.”
She added that living openly in her truth empowers others:
“I think there’s something about people who do live in their authenticity… it gives others the courage to do the same.”
G20 Releases on 10 April on Prime Video
G20 is a high-stakes political action thriller directed by Patricia Riggen, starring Viola Davis alongside Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, and Antony Starr. The film is scheduled to premiere globally on Amazon Prime Video on 10 April 2025.
Davis portrays a resilient U.S. President caught in a violent insurrection during a G20 summit. The film combines political intrigue with action intensity, centering around leadership, race, and the strength of women in crisis.
A Legacy Defined by Depth and Courage
With G20, Viola Davis continues to challenge the norms of genre, gender, and power in cinema. More than just a lead actor in an action film, she is a voice for authentic, multidimensional storytelling, inspiring the next generation of performers — and viewers — to embrace their truth unapologetically.
As the film hits screens, audiences can expect not only pulse-pounding moments, but a performance infused with humanity, conviction, and emotional force — hallmarks of everything Viola Davis stands for.
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