News | Entertainment
6 Jul 2025 7:38
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Viola Davis claimed a director she'd known for 10 years mistakenly called her by his maid's name

    The 56-year-old actress didn't name the filmmaker but admitted she has been subjected to racist "microaggressions" on a regular basis over the years


    Speaking at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival during Variety and Kering's Women In Motion discussion, she said: "I had a director who did that to me. He said, 'Louise!' I knew him for 10 years and he called me Louise and I find out that it's because his maid's name is Louise.

    "I was maybe around 30 at the time, so it was a while ago. But what you have to realise is that those micro-aggressions happen all the time."

    Despite her own career success, the 'Woman King' actress insisted there are still certain movies she's unable to be a part of because of her ethnicity.

    She said: "If I wanted to play a mother whose family lives in a low-income neighborhood and my son was a gang member who died in a drive-by shooting, I could get that made. If I played a woman who was looking to recreate herself by flying to Nice and sleeping with five men at the age of 56 - looking like me, I'm going to have a hard time pushing that one, even as Viola Davis.

    "People can't reconcile the Blackness with the spiritual awakening and the sexuality. It's too much for them."

    The former 'How To Get Away with Murder' star claimed she has missed out on roles in the past because of her race or because Hollywood doesn't deem her "pretty enough".

    She admitted of the latter reason: "It really gets on my damn nerves. It breaks my heart and it makes me angry.

    "A lot of it is based in race. It really is.

    "Let's be honest. If I had my same features and I were five shades lighter, it would just be a little bit different. And if I had blonde hair, blue eyes and even a wide nose, it would be even a little bit different than what it is now.

    "We could talk about colourism, we could talk about race. It p***** me off, and it has broken my heart - on a number of projects, which I won't name."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     06 Jul: Travis Kelce struggled to prepare for Saturday Night Live because he "can't really read that well"
     06 Jul: Idris Elba has insisted he will never watch The Wire
     06 Jul: Doja Cat is determined to avoid being a "little monster" who "just wants success"
     05 Jul: Jessie J is feeling "positive and grateful" following her breast cancer surgery, but she is "missing being an active mum" and has stopped taking pain medication
     05 Jul: Olivia Munn has alleged a director tried to "ruin her chances" of working after a disagreement on set
     05 Jul: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has thanked Jelly Roll for helping him through a "very hard" time
     05 Jul: Annabelle Dexter-Jones and Daniel Humm are married
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The basketball might of the United States isn't fazing the Junior Tall Blacks ahead of their historic Under-19 World Cup semifinal, overnight in Switzerland More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Toyota's RAV4's held it's top spot as the favourite passenger car - in a standout month for vehicle sales More...



     Today's News

    Tennis:
    A third straight show of dominance from world tennis number one Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon 7:27

    Law and Order:
    Cassie has emerged as a powerful figure after mixed verdict in Sean 'Diddy' Combs case 7:27

    Rugby League:
    The competition-leading Raiders have extended their winning streak in league's NRL to seven matches 7:17

    Swimming:
    Paris opens River Seine for public swimming for first time since 1923 7:07

    Entertainment:
    Travis Kelce struggled to prepare for Saturday Night Live because he "can't really read that well" 7:06

    Soccer:
    Paris Saint-Germain are through to the last four at football's Club World Cup 6:47

    Entertainment:
    Idris Elba has insisted he will never watch The Wire 6:36

    Entertainment:
    Doja Cat is determined to avoid being a "little monster" who "just wants success" 6:06

    Accident and Emergency:
    A homicide investigation is now being carried out after a baby found with critical injuries at a Foxton Beach house died in hospital 4:46

    Basketball:
    The basketball might of the United States isn't fazing the Junior Tall Blacks ahead of their historic Under-19 World Cup semifinal, overnight in Switzerland 21:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd