No One Understands Color Quite Like Viola Davis
Since her early days on the red carpet, Viola Davis has remained steadfast in her approach to fashion—she understands which cuts flatter and accentuate her body shape, embraces bold hues (but isn’t one to shy away from an LBD or bright whites), and looks to old Hollywood glamour for inspiration. She’s responsible for some of the best award show looks of all time, like the crimson off-the-shoulder Armani Privé she wore to collect her Oscar statuette for Best Supporting Actress in Fences in 2017 (which also made her the first Black actor to win an Oscar, Emmy, and a Tony Award, by the way). Now that her role in The Woman King has her hitting the awards circuit once again, Davis is back on red carpets in eye-catching looks. She has already made a splash at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, and a nomination at the BAFTAs means we will likely being seeing her there too. In the meantime, let’s take a look back at some of the actress’ best looks over the course of her illustrious career.
Davis looked as glamorous as ever in a brown, sequin-covered Valentino dress, with an attached cape.
Though the hem of her dress got drenched by the rain, Davis still looked gorgeous in a cobalt blue Jason Wu dress at the 80th annual Golden Globes.
The custom Tory Burch dress Davis wore to the Palm Springs International Film Festival's Film Awards was a work of art.
Davis was hard to miss in a custom Christopher John Rogers look at the Governors Awards.
Wearing a black and white striped Greta Constantine dress with 3D floral appliqués, Davis attended the UK premiere of her film, The Woman King.
Clearly, Davis was on a Greta Constantine kick during her tour for The Woman King, because she wore another custom look by the designer to the film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Have you ever seen anything more beautiful than this marigold, custom Alexander McQueen gown on Davis?
Davis loves a bold color, so this orange Stella McCartney was the perfect choice for the actress.
The actress returned to the red carpet after a year of virtual award shows in a white, ethereal Alexander McQueen gown.
There may not have been a true red carpet for the 2021 SAG Awards, but Davis still made our best dressed list in this lime green Louis Vuitton gown.
Another at-home serve from Davis. The actress celebrated her Golden Globe nomination in a gown from Lavie by CK, made by Cameroon-born, LA-based designer Claude Kameni.
While Davis is known for bringing bold colors to the red carpet, she also loves an angelic white gown, like this Michael Kors number from the Rome Film Fest in 2019.
Davis wore a gorgeous, black and white Alberta Ferretti Limited Edition dress to the Emmys in 2019.
The actress attended the BAFTAs in 2019 wearing another black and white gown. This velvet and satin creation was from the Armani Privé fall 2018 collection.
The actress looked like an award herself when she attended the Critics Choice Awards in Michael Kors.
Davis matched her bright red, one-shoulder Akris dress with a Tyler Ellis clutch at the European premiere of her film, Widows.
While Davis’ Elizabeth Kennedy dress may have been simple, it created the perfect back drop to show off her gorgeous House of Yimama tribal choker.
Leave it to Davis to embrace the Barbiecore trend years before it reached its climax. Here, the actress wears a sequin-covered, bright pink Michael Kors Collection dress to the 90th annual Academy Awards in 2018.
The actress wore a luxe, velvet Brandon Maxwell gown with a Harry Winston necklace to the Globes in 2018.
Orange you glad Davis wore this Zac Posen dress to the Emmys in 2017?
Davis took home her first and only Oscar in a bright red Armani gown with a halter neck and draped, off-the-shoulder details.
It’s fitting that Davis tapped British designer Jenny Packham to dress her for the British Academy Film Awards.
Davis looked like a classic Hollywood star in this white, strapless Vivienne Westwood couture dress at the 2017 SAG awards.
When in doubt, Davis always goes for the brightly colored, sequin-covered Michael Kors Collection gown.
What did we say about the brightly colored, sequin-covered Michael Kors Collection dresses?
Davis wore a hot pink Marchesa gown with an embroidered bodice to the Emmys in 2016.
The actress wore a sparkly Vivienne Westwood dress to the premiere of Suicide Squad.
Davis looked like the night sky in Marchesa at the 2016 Gloden Globes.
Sometimes Davis loves to pull out a white dress for a red carpet. At the Emmys in 2015, she wore this Carmen Marc Valvo gown with a leaf motif decorating the torso and skirt.
The actress attended the 87th annual Oscars in a Zac Posen resort 2015 off-the-shoulder gown.
Davis wore a MaxMara halter neck column dress with a keyhole cutout to the SAG awards in 2015.
Wearing Donna Karan Atelier, Davis attended the Golden Globes in 2015.
Davis wore a gorgeous Escada resort 2015 gown with a paillette-embellished neckline to the Emmys in 2014.
Wearing an strapless, emerald Escada dress, Davis attended the Academy Awards in 2014.
The actress looked gorgeous in a Monique Lhuillier spring 2013 one-shoulder dress at the SAG Awards.
Wearing a teal Alberta Ferretti pre-fall 2012 dress, Davis attended the premiere of her film, Won’t Back Down in 2012.
Davis loves to bring color on the red carpet, and the emerald green of this Vera Wang gown might be our favorite she’s ever worn.
At the 2012 SAG Awards, David wore a white, silk chiffon Marchesa gown with gold detailing across the bust.
The actress wore a Grecian-style one-shoulder chiffon Emilio Pucci gown to the Golden Globes in 2012.
While the original version of this Raoul spring 2012 gown didn’t feature the cinched waist, Davis opted to give it a bit of shape when she wore it to the premiere of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close in 2011.
Davis wore this red, asymmetric Escada dress to the premiee of The Help in Los Angeles.
The actress took home her second Tony Award in a lime green, halterneck dress.
Davis wore a knee-length, hot pink dress to the premiere of her film, Law Abiding Citizen.
Though Davis didn’t win the Oscar in 2009, she looked like a statuette in a golden, halterneck Reem Acra dress.
The actress attended the 2009 SAG Awards in a one-shoulder, canary yellow dress.
David wore a lowcut, geometric Max Azaria gown to the Golden Globes in 2009.
Apparently, Davis has been a fan of bright colors for quite awhile now. Take this eye-catching pink, knee-length midi dress she wore to the premiere of Disturbia in 2007.
Davis went casual for the premiere of Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in 2005, opting to wear a gray, pinstripe suit with a bright red cowlneck top.
The actress wore a brown suit to the premiere of Antwone Fisher in 2002.
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