Life’s Work: An Interview with Viola Davis

Davis: Well, I would never label myself a hero. Heroes, to me, are the swashbuckling dudes you see on-screen. They always know what to do, and even when they’re afraid, they’ll jump. But I do relate to the hero’s journey. To move through life with any level of grace, and break generational curses, you have to be a hero. You have to be really brave in deciding where you want your life to go—and where you don’t want it to go. I didn’t want to succumb to the abuse and dysfunction that I grew up with. I didn’t want to not love myself.