Birthday Girl, Viola Davis covers Vanity Fair's July/August issue

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Presenting our July/August cover star: @ViolaDavis. Last month, the Oscar winner took to the streets to protest the death of George Floyd—but she’s no stranger to fighting for what’s right. As a Black woman in Hollywood, she’s spent her career doing it: “My entire life has been a protest,” Davis says. “My production company is my protest. Me not wearing a wig at the Oscars in 2012 was my protest. It is a part of my voice, just like introducing myself to you and saying, ‘Hello, my name is Viola Davis.’” Davis was photographed by @dario.studio—the first Black photographer to shoot a Vanity Fair cover. At the link in bio, Davis speaks with V.F. about her extraordinary journey out of poverty and into the stubbornly unequal Hollywood system. Story by @soniasaraiya Photographed by @dario.studio Styled by @elizabethstewart1 Coatdress @maxmara Earrings @pomellato

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Viola Davis was photographed by @dario.studio—the first Black photographer to shoot a Vanity Fair cover. Dario is an artist. writer. director. storyteller. host of @blackimaginationpodcast and show director for @pyermoss. 

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To be American: Thank you to @cooperhewitt for allowing my voice to be amongst other fashion greats to reflect & remember the creative genius of designer Willi Smith! Shoutout to the MVPs @acunninghamcameron & @darnelljamal 🙏🏽. Available now @rizzolibooks. . . . #cooperhewitt #smithsonian #willismith #blackfashion

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During the fraught, emotional days after the killing of George Floyd, Viola Davis wanted, more than anything, to be out on the streets of Los Angeles, shouting, protesting, holding a sign.

She wanted to join the thousands of others who flooded cities across the nation and around the world to call for justice for Floyd and all the other Black men and women unjustly killed by the police.

The Vanity Fair interview takes place on Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating Black emancipation that has never before had so much mainstream recognition. For a woman who entwines her voice and mission inextricably into her career, it’s fitting. Davis, who turns 55 in August, languished in the margins for years before vaulting into the public consciousness in the last decade.

Entire interview is here.