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Why Viola Davis is one of the most powerful actresses of her generation
Viola Davis is not only a name that everyone knows—she is a revolutionary in Hollywood. With a career that has spanned several decades, Davis has won critical praise and distinguished awards, such as an Academy Award, an Emmy, and a Tony, becoming the first Black actress to win the “Triple Crown of Acting.” Her work always bears a profound emotional depth and rich vulnerability that have distinguished her as one of the most forceful and expressive actors in the field.
Her dedication to authenticity in all roles, from historical biopics to psychological thrillers, has made her a reputation as a fearless artist. Davis is famous for vanishing into her characters, frequently playing women who bear the emotional burden of their worlds—whether as mourning mothers, pioneering leaders, or complicated antiheroes. She brings raw humanity to the screen, balancing strength and fragility with surgical precision.
In an industry that has traditionally marginalized women of color, Davis not only established a stellar path but also defined what leading lady roles can become. Let us now take a look at the highly-rated Viola Davis performances and what makes each of them memorable.
Ranking the best Viola Davis movies of all time
Fences (2016) – A career-defining performance that earned her an Oscar
In Fences, Viola Davis stars opposite Denzel Washington in a searing adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Her role as Rose Maxson, a devoted wife navigating emotional betrayal and lost dreams, is one of the most lauded of her career. Davis originally played the role on Broadway, for which she won a Tony Award, before bringing the same depth and emotional intensity to the screen.
Her performance in Fences earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, solidifying her place among Oscar-winning Viola Davis films. One of the most unforgettable scenes—where Rose confronts her husband over his infidelity—showcases Davis’s unmatched ability to channel rage, heartbreak, and dignity in a single breath.
Critics praised her layered portrayal, and the film itself received four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Fences remains a landmark in Davis’s career, a quintessential example of her commitment to character integrity and theatrical realism.
The Help (2011) – A breakthrough role that sparked national conversation
The Help was a significant milestone in Viola Davis’s mainstream presence. Portraying Aibileen Clark, a Black domestic worker in 1960s Mississippi, Davis gave a profoundly affecting performance that crossed racial and cultural boundaries. The film, adapted from Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling novel, broached the issues of racism, dignity, and moral strength.
Apart from some of the criticisms that have been levelled against the white-centric story of the film, Davis’s acting went beyond the script and imbued Aibileen with a quiet dignity and strength that stole every scene. Her closing monologue, where she insists, “You is kind, you is smart, you is important,” became one of the decade’s most-quoted lines.
For this position, Davis was awarded her first nomination for Best Actress at the Academy Awards and was honored with many critics’ awards. The Help is still listed high on charts of Viola Davis’ greatest movies ranked, both for its effects and for how it launched her into Hollywood royalty.
Widows (2018) – A genre-defying lead in a heist drama
In Steve McQueen’s Widows, Davis made her entry into the thriller world with unmatched gravitas. She portrayed Veronica Rawlings, a woman who, following the murder of her crime lord husband, mobilizes a group of women to execute a heist that he had begun but left unfinished.
What sets Widows apart as one of top-rated Viola Davis performances is her capacity to ground a plot of high tension with emotional heft. Davis’s performance is both fierce and vulnerable, in depicting a woman who directs anguish into determination and control.
Censors pointed out that Widows challenged genre conventions by placing women, and especially women of color, at the center of an action movie. Davis’s poker-faced performance and emotional depth raised the film from being a run-of-the-mill crime thriller to an actor-driven classic.
Doubt (2008) – A single scene that stunned audiences and critics alike
Viola Davis had only one major scene in Doubt, but it was enough to earn her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Playing Mrs. Miller, the mother of a boy possibly being abused by a priest, Davis delivered a powerhouse performance opposite Meryl Streep.
In just a few minutes of screen time, she conveyed a lifetime of pain, compromise, and maternal pragmatism. Her tear-filled monologue, delivered with devastating restraint, shifted the entire emotional axis of the film. It was a scene that cemented her as a force in dramatic acting.
Doubt remains a testament to Davis’s ability to turn limited screen time into unforgettable moments—one of the clearest examples of how her craft can elevate even the smallest roles into defining career highlights.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) – A fearless portrayal of a blues icon
In Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Davis transformed into the real-life “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey, in a role that demanded physicality, musicality, and deep psychological insight. Set in a single-day recording session, the film explores racial tensions, exploitation in the music industry, and the personal demons of its characters.
Davis gained weight, wore gold teeth, and underwent hours of makeup daily to embody Ma Rainey. Her performance was described as ferocious, commanding, and unapologetic. The film was also the last on-screen appearance of Chadwick Boseman, making it emotionally poignant for many viewers.
Davis received another Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance. The film further showcased her unmatched versatility and commitment to embodying powerful, historically significant Black women.
The Woman King (2022) – Her transformation into a warrior queen
With The Woman King, Davis entered the action epic genre, playing General Nanisca, the leader of the Agojie, an all-female warrior unit in the West African kingdom of Dahomey. The film was praised for its historical grounding and visceral fight choreography.
Davis underwent rigorous physical training to perform most of her stunts. Her portrayal balanced brute strength with emotional nuance, exploring themes of trauma, leadership, and female solidarity.
The Woman King marked a milestone in her career as a Black woman leading a historical action film—a genre that rarely features women of color in commanding roles. The performance further enriched the conversation about Davis’s ability to tackle any role, from intimate dramas to large-scale spectacles.
Prisoners (2013) – A haunting portrayal of grief and strength
In Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners, Davis played Nancy Birch, a mother grappling with the kidnapping of her daughter. Though part of an ensemble cast that included Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, Davis brought a grounded, emotional center to the suspenseful narrative.
Her scenes explored the limits of morality, grief, and desperation. In a particularly chilling moment, her character agrees to complicity in vigilante justice—a scene that speaks volumes through her silence and expressions alone.
Though not as widely discussed as her award-winning roles, Prisoners is a critical piece in understanding the full range of top-rated Viola Davis performances.
Suicide Squad & The Suicide Squad – Her commanding presence as Amanda Waller
In a departure from her more grounded roles, Davis took on the part of Amanda Waller, the ruthless government official in DC’s Suicide Squad franchise. While the films themselves received mixed reviews, Davis’s icy and calculating performance was a consistent highlight.
Amanda Waller is one of the most morally ambiguous characters in the DC Universe, and Davis leaned into that complexity with a performance that blended intimidation with control. Her portrayal helped elevate what might have been a standard bureaucratic role into something much more memorable.
Her inclusion in both films—and potentially future DC installments—has made Waller an iconic character in modern comic book adaptations.
Honourable mentions from Viola Davis’s filmography
While the titles above dominate conversations around “Viola Davis’ best movies ranked,” several other roles deserve recognition for showcasing her talent:
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Get on Up (2014): Davis plays James Brown’s mother in a brief but emotionally potent role.
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Blackhat (2015): A cyber-thriller where Davis plays an FBI agent, demonstrating her command of procedural drama.
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State of Play (2009): A supporting but impactful role as a coroner that highlighted her attention to detail.
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Lila & Eve (2015): Davis stars opposite Jennifer Lopez in a revenge thriller, offering yet another layer of emotional intensity.
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Air (2023): As Deloris Jordan, Michael Jordan’s mother, Davis imbues the business drama with maternal wisdom and quiet power.
Conclusion: The unmatched versatility of Viola Davis in cinema
From Shakespeare adaptations and period pieces to superhero sagas and historical epics, Viola Davis has consistently demonstrated that there is no genre or role out of her reach. Her body of work is a masterclass in range, discipline, and truth.
The broad range of Viola Davis’s best films ranked higher than not only speaks to her impressive CV but also to a broader cultural shift—where rich, complex narratives about Black women are at last on center stage. Whether she’s carrying a spear in The Woman King, carrying emotional openness in Fences, or carrying administrative authority in Suicide Squad, Davis dominates the screen as few have in her age group.
To their fans and the critics, the best Viola Davis performances above are not simply highlights but marks in film history. And every new venture by Davis continues to redefine excellence as an actor.