Viola Davis opens up about her struggles with weight gain

Viola Davis’ latest honour is not for her acting, but for her writing. The Oscar winner’s upcoming memoir, Finding Me, is Oprah Winfrey’s new book club pick.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterDiscovery+ is set to launch a new docuseries focused on Black food history in America from producer Viola Davis, featuring scholar and cookbook author Caroline Randall Williams as host, Variety has learned exclusively.The four-episode show, titled “Hungry for Answers,” will follow Williams as she travels the country, “uncovering the fascinating, essential, and often untold Black stories behind some of America’s classic and emblematic food and spirits,” per the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streamer.

Viola Davis told Oprah Winfrey she has God to thank for helping her meet her now-husband Julius Tennon.

Viola Davis discussed her new memoir, Finding Me in a Netflix special airing on April 22.During the candid interview, Davis shares some of her childhood experiences with unimaginable poverty, disturbing abuse and “all the things that cause you pain.” She also said that “giving up hope that the past could be different” has brought her peace, forgiveness, and a sense of self. The actress further explains how she manifested the love in her life and what it took to become one of the most celebrated and talented entertainers of this generation.In this exclusive clip, Davis talks about her process when executing a role, and how important self-perception is, along with how other people see us.“I think everybody moves through life fighting to be seen,” the Juilliard graduate stated.

Viola Davis revealed that she prayed for her husband Julius Tennon before they had ever met.In a clip from the upcomingOprah + Viola: A Netflix Special Event, the 56-year-old actress explained that she had asked God for a 'big Black man' after being advised by a friend to pray for the man that she wanted.'He said, "Viola, even the vacuous stuff, just put it all in there. Looks, everything,"' the First Lady star told Oprah Winfrey, 68.

Viola Davis’ transformation into Michelle Obama in ‘ The First Lady’ relied on extensive “research” by her hair and makeup team. Hair stylist Louisa Anthony “did a lot of Google searches” to get to grips with how to “recreate” the 58-year-old wife of President Barack Obama's hair with “accuracy” on the 56-year-old actress. Louisa told Harper’s Bazaar: “The scene where Viola is at a photo shoot with the now historic black-and-white dress—Ms.

Look… even a heavy hitter like Viola Davis can miss every once in a while.

depiction of Michelle Obama in Showtime’s series “The First Lady” turned heads on Sunday evening following the premiere.The episode made fans’ jaws drop when they saw the Oscar winner’s portrayal of former President Barack Obama’s wife.Watchers were confused over one scene in which Davis, 56, is talking and her lips were overly-pursed in an exaggerated way. The scene involves Davis as Michelle conversing with her husband Barack, played by O.

Inside the halls of power. Showtime’s new series The First Lady examines what goes on in the White House through the lens of presidential wives — and several stars underwent major transformations to play them.

Viola Davis as Michelle Obama, Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford and Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt, Showtime's   examines American leadership from the eyes of three iconic First Ladies. Premiering on Sunday, April 17,  will dive into Obama's, Ford's and Roosevelt's political and personal lives, while examining the impact the White House's women had on the nation. The new drama series is set to stream exclusively on Showtime. Sign Up for Showtime«She is all things.

Viola Davis as Michelle Obama, Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford and Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt, Showtime's   examines American leadership from the eyes of three iconic First Ladies. Premiering on Sunday, will dive into Obama's, Ford's and Roosevelt's political and personal lives, while examining the impact the White House's women had on the nation. Sign Up for Showtime«She is all things. She is a hero,» Davis told ET about portraying Mrs.

Viola Davis is playing Michelle Obama in the upcoming Showtime series “The First Lady”, but admits she’s “terrified” wondering what Obama will think of her performance.

, on April 14. Davis, who plays former in the series, was styled by Elizabeth Stewart, who shared on her Instagram that the jewelry choice was about more than simply looking good.Designed by fine jeweler Satta Matturi, the earrings feature a cluster of diamonds set in yellow gold that fans out like the branches on a tree.

The stars of The First Lady are hitting the red carpet!

Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Gillian Anderson andDakota Fanning were dressed to impress at thepremiere of their highly-anticipated series The First Lady in Los Angeles, California on Thursday evening.For thestar-studded occasion, held at the at the DGA Theater, Davis, 56, who portraysMichelle Obama in the drama, rocked a bright orange, floor-length gown, sparkly gold earrings andglamorous smokey grey eyeshadow.Ahead of the release of Aaron Cooley's political anthology, which also stars Pfeiffer as Betty Ford and Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt, this Sunday on Showtime,the Scarface actress, 63, oozed sophisticationin a black satin suit with a plunging blouse and semi-sheer pumps. The fierce ladies: Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Gillian Anderson and Dakota Fanning were dressed to impress at the premiere of their highly-anticipated series The First Lady in Los Angeles, California on Thursday eveningThe Batman Returns star wore her shoulder-length blonde hair in loose waves and opted for glowing makeup look, consisting of a pink lipstick and sweeping of blush for a gorgeous healthy-looking glow on her flawless skin.

Viola Davis opened up in a new interview about her heartbreaking childhood and how someone like Michelle Obama inspired people who grew up like she did.MORE: Viola Davis stuns fans with Michelle Obama transformation in first look at The First LadyIn conversation with the Wall Street Journal while promoting her show The First Lady, the actress talked about playing the former First Lady in the series.VIDEO: Michelle Obama reveals what she took from the White House"She was one of those first ladies that came in with big ideas," she said. "And I would say that the restrictions that were placed on her—not just being a first lady but [also] being a Black woman—were enormous."She specifically also mentioned Michelle's Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which President Obama had signed into law, talking about why she could relate to it.MORE: Viola Davis dazzles in a showstopping neon dress that might be her best look yet"I mention that because I was a kid who was hungry.

Fans might think it's hard for a seasoned, award-winning and beloved actor like Viola Davis to be shaken by any role, but the  star isn't afraid to admit that her most recent project was a little nerve-wracking.In fact, the actress called portraying Michelle Obama for Showtime's scripted anthology series, , «absolutely terrifying.» Davis spoke with ET's Nischelle Turner ahead of the premiere of the non-fiction series alongside her co-stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Gillian Anderson, who star as Betty Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt, respectively. The show’s first season, directed and executive produced by Susanne Bier, follows the three former first ladies for «a revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House.»Set in the East Wing,  will show how «many of history’s most impactful and world-changing decisions have been hidden from view, made by America's charismatic, complex and dynamic first ladies.» The show, set to premiere on April 17, will go into the personal and political lives of three such «unique, enigmatic women,» recounting their journeys from wife to Washington.Davis noted that the scariest aspect of portraying Obama was the idea that she was someone whom «everyone has ownership over.»«You’re terrified whenever you start a job because you are afraid you are going to be found out — that’s big imposter syndrome.

Three iconic actresses are playing three iconic women of history.

Viola Davis has released a new memoir titled Finding Me.In the book she shared that she grew up so poor in Rhode Island that she had to dive into dumpsters to find food with her five siblings. The actress also shared that she had rocks thrown at her by racists. And worst of all, she saw her father Dan physically and emotionally abused her mother Mae Alice.In an interview with People magazine, the 56-year-old actress explained why she was able to eventually forgive her father, who passed away due to pancreatic cancer in 2006.'I wanted to love my dad,' The First Lady star told the magazine.

Viola Davis continues to share her traumatic story.

Caroline Framke Chief TV CriticAs Chicago lawyer Michelle Obama becomes First Lady Michelle Obama in Showtime’s newest drama, her predecessor Laura Bush offers some words of advice and comfort. “You may think you have nothing in common with the First Ladies before you,” Laura tells her, “[but] trust me when I say we all felt that way.” Here, Laura Bush acts as both some benign voice of reason (an odd choice) and also as a mouthpiece for “The First Lady” writ large (odder), which tackles the stories of three First Ladies who share little beyond the fact of living in the White House (oddest, by a mile).There’s Michelle, played by Viola Davis with Obama’s familiar cadence (if also some very exaggerated stenciled half-moon eyebrows).