Viola Davis stars as General Nanisca in the historical epic The Woman King, broadcasting on Tipik on November 15 at 20:50, showcasing her multi-year battle to bring the story of the Dahomey Amazons to the screen.
Tipik had previously broadcast The Woman King a little over two years ago, Sudinfo reported, offering a fresh look at the inspirational career of its leading star. Davis made history in 2015 as the first African-American woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for How to Get Away with Murder.
- Davis secured an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress two years after her Emmy win for her performance in Denzel Washington’s Fences.
- She spent years developing The Woman King alongside her husband and producing partner Julius Tennon through JuVee Productions, facing steep resistance from traditional Hollywood studios.
- À 61 ans, Davis continue sa prolifique carrière avec de futurs projets comprenant la série thriller de Paramount+ Ascent.
Despite her established industry lauriels, Davis faced severe roadblocks mounting The Woman King. “Aucun studio ne voulait faire un film populaire où on ne voit que des femmes, de surcroît noires,” Davis lamented to Sudinfo regarding the arduous development process led by JuVee Productions.
The feature focuses on the real-world Dahomey Amazons of the 19th-century West African kingdom situated in modern-day Benin. John Boyega co-stars as the polygamous King Ghézo, ruling over elite female warriors who trained rigorously for battle.
“Elles étaient meilleures que les hommes au combat et ne pouvaient ni se marier ni avoir des relations sexuelles,” Davis explained to Sudinfo, describing the historical fighters. She considers the project, which debuted in theaters four years ago and doubled its production budget, to be her masterwork. “Il définit ma carrière,” she said.
| Project | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Air | 2023 | Deloris Jordan |
| Hunger Games: La Ballade du serpent et de l’oiseau chanteur | 2023 | Dr Volumnia Gaul |
| G20 | 2025 | présidente des États-Unis |
Davis followed The Woman King by portraying Deloris Jordan, mother of basketball icon Michael Jordan, in Ben Affleck’s 2023 film Air. That same year, she shifted gears to play the villainous Dr. Volumnia Gaul in Hunger Games: La Ballade du serpent et de l’oiseau chanteur, before stepping into the role of the U.S. President in the Prime Video thriller G20 in 2025.
Cinematic releases continue on January 27, when Davis returns to the big screen in Le royaume d’Orïsha. The high-fantasy epic adapts Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling novel about a young woman’s fight to restore magic to a fictional African kingdom.
Davis shares the screen with an ensemble cast featuring Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Regina King, and Thuso Mbedu. Gina Prince-Bythewood, who directed The Woman King, also helms this adaptation, reuniting Davis with familiar collaborators.
At 61, Davis continues reflecting on her path forward while building upon an early life defined by extreme poverty, hunger, and persistent indignities. Sudinfo noted her journey from hardship to global recognition showed her resilience.
