Oscar nominations were announced yesterday and that has set an atmosphere of excitement amongst the nominees and the audience. Viola Davis has set a new record for the actresses with dark complexion for being nominated for the prestigious awards for the fourth time. Earlier she was nominated for her projects, such as Doubt and Fences in best supporting actress category, and in best actress category for her movie, The Help. She won the award for Fences in the best supporting actress category in 2016.
And now kudos to the diva as she gets nominated in the best actress category for her movie, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. She was quoted saying by Variety, “For me, it's a reflection of the lack of opportunities and access to opportunities people of color have had in this business. If me, going back to the Oscars four times in 2021, makes me the most nominated Black actress in history, that's a testament to the sheer lack of material there has been out there for artists of color.”
The actress speaking to EW regarding her preparation to play real-life singer Ma Rainey mentioned in this role key element was her physical transformation.
She said, “You can look at it and you can have your vanity walk into the room before you and say, 'No. I want to look cuter.' Or, 'I want to not have the gold teeth because it may be distracting. But I'm one of those artists that absolutely believe that the way that you honor that character and that human being is by embracing every aspect of who they are.” ALSO READ: Oscars 2021 Nominations: Nomadland, The Father Bag Maximum Nominations; FULL LIST HERE
Meanwhile, Denzel Washington is one of the black performers who has been nominated for Oscars for eight times, out of which she bagged two awards. Following her, is Morgan Freeman, being nominated for five times, and taking home one award so far. Hattie McDaniel starred in Gone With the Wind was the first black performer who was nominated and also won Oscars back in 1940.
Viola Davis's movie Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is streaming on Netflix. ALSO READ: Oscars 2021: Malayalam Film Jallikattu Fails To Make An Entry; Bittu Makes It To Live Action Short Film Shortlist
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