What Taraji P. Henson Whispered To Viola Davis Before Her Big Emmys Win

Viola Davis holds up her Emmy For “Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series” at the Emmy Awards. Photo: Getty Images

At last night’s Emmy Awards, Viola Davis — who has been in the biz for 35 years — took home the statuette for “Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.” The moment cemented the How to Get Away With Murder star’s place in history, as she became the first African American actress to win said accolade. Following her inspiring acceptance speech, Davis headed backstage to the press room where fielded questions from a variety of reporters about her career leading up to this moment, which handsome star congratulated her, and what Taraji P. Henson whispered in her ear before her name was announced.

Unidentified reporter: How are you feeling? You have to be floating on Cloud 9.

Viola Davis: You know what, I am! I feel really good, which if you knew me, you would know how rare that is. I’m always thinking about the work. I’m always thinking about how to keep myself grounded that sometimes I’m not in the moment. But I feel good now.

Unidentified reporter: How are you going to celebrate?

VD: Eating…bread, dessert. You know if you eat bread in Hollywood, you’re subversive! And drink 1,2,3,4 drinks and calling my daughter, my baby, Genesis.

Question from Tanya Hart: It took 67 years, but you did it. Did you feel at that moment that a weight had been lifted off you because everybody wanted you to win so badly?

VD: I didn’t know everyone wanted me to win it so badly. But I keep saying the same quote over and over because it hit me so far. Stories never end. My story doesn’t end here. Yes, it feels fantastic but my husband and I started a production company. I just feel like there is so much work that needs to be done in so many areas in the business with actors of color, so many narratives that need to be seen by people, so many stories that need to be seen and felt, that I hope that it doesn’t end here.

Reporter from People magazine: What went through your mind when you won? Has anyone excited congratulated you tonight?

VD: Jon Hamm! He’s pretty handsome. And my husband. [Laughs]. I’m bad at these questions. Because I’m excited when anyone congratulates me. You guys have to realize I’ve been in this business 35 years and 27 professional. I’m the journeymen actor you saw in one scene here, two scenes there. I’ve been eeking out a living doing theater, Broadway, off Broadway, films, supporting roles. I’m just excited to be a part of the conversation. I’ve seen the unemployment line a lot man.

Unidentified reporter: Will it be a milestone when we stop saying, ‘The first actress in that category?’ Is that a milestone you look forward to?

VD: Absolutely. Not just stop saying it, but also stop writing it. And one of the things that I admire about ShondaLand is that [my character] Annalise Keating was not written specifically for a black woman, I made her black because I’m black. But what needs to happen in the writing is when you put pen to paper; you’ve got to let your imagination fly. When you go to acting school and study Chekhov and Shakespeare and Arthur Miller and August Wilson, you just think that the sky is the limit in terms of how you can portray a human being. And it’s only until you get out there in your profession that people say you can only be a judge, you’re not cute enough to be a leading lady, you can only be a doctor, you can only be authoritative. You can only be what we define as black. I don’t know what that means.

Unidentified reporter: Has success made you a stronger person?

VD: Maybe a little bit because you come up against a lot when you are in the public eye but no, my past has made me a stronger person. And turning 50 has made me a stronger person. Being a mother has made me a stronger person, being married and with my husband for 16 years has made me a stronger person. Life has made me a stronger person because I understand failure. And I understand that life doesn’t end at failure. So it’s given me a great strength. I’m like, “You know, bring it on.”

Unidentified reporter: What did Taraji P. Henson whisper in your ear?

VD: Well we hugged each other 3 times. Taraji by the way, people need to know about Taraji P. Henson. And it’s very, very, very rare to find [someone like her] in this business. She is the most supportive actress you can possibly imagine – supportive in ways you can’t even begin to understand and is genuine. And I’ve been in this business close to 30 years and I would put her on the top of a list in terms of support. So we just whispered to each other “Whoever gets it, it’s great. It’s wonderful. And I love you.” That’s what we said.

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