Viola Davis sick of being called the “Black Meryl Streep”

Poor Viola.

And I'm tired of being called the Queen of Siam.

She sounds so arrogant and entitled in that. She lists all her career achievements. She's had her share of good roles. What does she expect to become an action star like Sig when she's 50 something?

[quote] I’d consider seeing anything she’s in on her name and talent alone, so why can’t she get better roles?

And all she gets is just to be the highly paid lead of an prestigious network drama series!

How she [bold]suffers![/bold]

R3 Why does she sound arrogant? She has to speak up for her accomplishments because she isn’t being given the same opportunities as her contemporaries. She doesn’t want Sigourney Weaver’s 20s, she wants the variety, breadth and depth of roles being created and offered to those other actors. An actor of her caliber shouldn’t have to be in Suicide Squad, but it beats playing the maid again

Who could blame her? She's LOTS more talented than THAT! (Of course, aren't we all?)

She gets better roles nowadays than both Sigourney and Julianne. When was the last time those two had a big film? And Meryl is much more versatile than any of them.

Can she get butts in the seats? They aren't going to pay her $20 million per film if they don't perform well at the box office.

Viola Davis is EXHAUSTING.

She's still whining and bitching as if "Hollywood" is some centralized institution where she can't get a raise, but everyone else can! Hon, it's show business, there are no rules and there is no fairness!

Look sister, you are clearly in the top 2% of SAG-AFTRA members and have been a working actress for many years. If you have a problem with your compensation fire your agent, and feel free to turn down any job that doesn't suit you for any reason. Many other fields of work are wide open if acting causes you such trauma!

African Americans are 13% of the population, so by dint of that, it's going to be more challenging to STAR in and get paid big bucks for being in a movie that must appeal broadly to moviegoers who skew young and male. Films with universal themes work best, niche projects just don't generate the cash you think you deserve!

Viola Davis is over fifty, not gorgeous, and doesn't do comedy at all. As a matter of fact, she is usually snot-nosed in and out of character, whining and complaining about her pay, or giving really nutty self-important diatribes about "the work" as if anybody gives a shit about ACK-TORS from the THEAT-AH, talking about their process. She's a total downer and seems to have zero awareness that she is a caricature of a self-involved artiste!

Even if I had a good role for her, I probably wouldn't hire her. Why would I, so she can wait until the check clears and then badmouth me, and my film? Leading with gratitude hasn't occurred to her because she has issues of grandiosity. I'd love to see her taxes and see what she earns, I'm sure it is plenty. She should try starring in a big blockbuster like "Avatar" and then maybe she can get a raise like Sigourney Weaver, but the fact is, people don't go to see Viola Davis movies, especially young black people. Tyler Perry ain't gonna pay her much at all, he's really cheap, plus she can't play comedy which Streep and Weaver can.

At least she has stopped trumpeting how sexy she is and how she should be regarded that way.

I like her rant and definitely wish black actresses fared better but she’s not bankable plus she didn’t get famous until she was in her 40’s. Plus she is not beautiful so what does she expect?

I like her rant and definitely wish black actresses fared better but she’s not bankable plus she didn’t get famous until she was in her 40’s. Plus she is not beautiful so what does she expect?

She flatters herself.

Tsk tsk, such hostility....Viola, darling, never forget: you is kind, you is smart, you is impo'htant!

She can go fuck herself!!! She's lucky she's not working at Spencer's Gifts in her local mall !!! No one cares about her black privilege problems! If you're a working actor in Hollywood, you should sit down, shut up, and be grateful-- because you have it way better than 99% percent of this country!

They tried to make her a star but I think at her age it’s character parts, unless you can bring in the money honey. Get a new agent. Don’t call us, we’ll call you.

See its like I always say, Supporting Actress is such a sewer. She's like Monique, Melissa Leo, AnnE, all nuts. After winning a Supporting award you really have to redeem yourself quickly with a lead win like Jess and I did.

You just know S. Epatha Merkerson is rolling her eyes at Viola Davis.

At least she's not being called "Aunt Jemima".

This is from a few years ago. I think now she should produce her own material like all the other middle aged women that she aspires to be. Reach for the stars, Viola!

Did anyone really refer to her as the black Meryl Streep? I mean, besides Viola herself?

95% of Hollywood screenwriters are white men. Shockingly, they write movies about...white men.

There needs to be more diversity at that level before there can be parity in terms of roles.

Reese, Nicole, they all produce to stay in the business. Complaining may be why Viola is not offered much, but if she wants great roles the. she needs to produce and show audiences are interested. No middle age woman can expect to be catered to.

She IS a bit full of herself, isn't she?

Forcing "diversity" on someone's else's art/commerce you aren't attending, or paying for isn't accomplishing anything, but it seems to be a popular solution.

I hope Viola isn't taking a job away from a trans (MtF!) actor! Then, indignant or not, we'd have to cancel her!

According to IMDB, she's going to star in the 'Untitled Harriet Tubman Project'. I thought we just had 'Harriet' last year. Was Julia Roberts not available for the reboot?

"I'm sick of being called the black sheep Meryl Streep."

[quote] She sounds so arrogant and entitled in that.

She’s pretty wacky and egotistical to think she’s anywhere near as good an actress as Meryl Streep. Her ridiculous performance in HTGAWM after season one has cemented her as a B or C actress.

She earned $250,000 an episode for HTGAWM and is a commercially unproven film actress who got famous in her 40s. Cry me a fucking river.

Octavia Spencer is sick of being called "the next Viola Davis" 😏

Who calls her that ? Never heard that in my life. She’s talented but she doesn’t have the range. Sorry.

White people are so evil yet they constantly want them to give them jobs. Get together and make your own movies. Then you can play whatever you want. If Tyler Perry can do it, it can't be hard

Bea Arthur’s joke about Esther Rolle comes to mind...

“My name is Viola Davis, I don’t do windows and I don’t do comedy.”

And of course she opened up her Oscar acceptance speech by talking about a graveyard. I still like Viola, but it seems like she can just never lighten up.

[quote]And Meryl is much more versatile than any of them.

It's easy to be versatile when you get first dibs on every 55 and over female role out there.

If other actresses had the same opportunities as Streep has been handed over the last decade, they could do just as well, if not even better.

I freaking love Viola Davis

Viola is much better than the overrated M.

"You can call me anything you like, honey. Just get me off 'NCIS: New Orleans' and offer me a challenging role I can sink my teeth into."

R30 Octavia Spencer is awesome and actually versatile actress. I like V.D., but from what i've seen of her work, it seems to me that she doesn't have many layers.

Viola Davis always plays the same character: a woman who cries dramatically into a mirror at some point during the film.

R9- She sounds like a FEMALE version of Spike Lee who is always WHINING and COMPLAINING.

She was in Doubt with Meryl Streep. Great movie and casting. Her role was small but I remember her clearly. She is a good actress. I think her murder show jumped the shark though.

She’s a character actress but wants to be seen as a leading lady. That’s why she never shuts the fuck up about how “sexualized” she is.

Furthermore, she’s not an actor that puts asses in movie theater seats even though there not a lot of those left. She needs to go down the producer route following in the footsteps of Reese and Nicole. If you’re a woman of a certain age in Hollywood, you need to either produce your own projects or do television if you want to keep working.

Since she's complaining, we can now start calling her "the Black Karen."

Viola -- it could be worse. They could be calling you "Black Glenn Close."

Viola, you're a great actress but please stop saying how sexy you are. You're painful to look at.

She arguably has a better career than Moore right now. Weaver hasn’t done anything of note in years. Meryl is well...Meryl and has been at it for over forty years. Even Meryl doesn’t have two Tonys. If she wants more money, she will have to do Suicide Sequels or work more. But she is a bit of a whiner. Glad she won the Oscar. It shut her mouth as far as that one goes.

I would say, that she is the Cicely Tyson of her generation.

Meryl Streep has been nominated 21 times., 13 times (with two wins) before she was 55, Viola Davis’ age. Davis has been nominated 3 times, with one win.

The idea that her talent or career is comparable to Streep’s is ludicrous. She has shown a limited range, no ability for comedy or romance, and no ability to draw audiences.

She's more like the female Denzel Washington

I think Viola is talented, but I'd go with Alfre Woodard as the most talented black actress. She also has more range and can do comedy and has a lot of likeability, as needed.

I love Viola’s acting but she clearly gets more work than Sigourney Weaver. I can’t remember the last time she was in a movie other than that Alien reboot (she was in that right?).

R48 She doesn't have the range

Sigourney is doing a movie that was originally supposed to be Meryl: The Good House.

Viola is a big complainer. She has gotten more breaks than most and is respected. For a woman in her 50’s, please don’t expect the phone to ring off the hook.

If her acting career is sagging, there are other ways to get attention.

I think the agent said, “You’re black, not Meryl Streep” and Viola told people he said she was the black Meryl Streep. Dementia can start at an early age.

A violin for Viola is playing somewhere...

Remember when she campaigning HARD AS FUCK for an oscar, and she told the story of the ONE time she was called the N-word. She was walking home from school to the "Wrong side of the railroad tracks" (probably in an affluent area that she lived in because her parents weren't poor) and someone yelled the word! Not necessarily at HER, but she was traumatized to the core!!!

BITCH, DO YOU HOW MANY TIMES I WAS CALLED FAGGOT??? WHILE BEING CHASED AND BEATEN UP??? DO YOU KNOW HOW SCARY THAT IS FOR A CHILD??? FUCK OFF!!!

R50 Woodard is a perfect example. She’s quietly won 4 Emmys, works non stop, and is grateful for what she has. To be a working actor is more than 95 percent of the battle. I like Viola, but is she feels this way she should produce her own films. That’s where the real money is in Hollywood.

Can she sing? At least Meryl has branched out to musicals (Mamma Mia; Into the Woods.)

[quote]At least Meryl has branched out to musicals (Mamma Mia; Into the Woods.)

All of which can be played at parties for the amusement of your guests.

Yes, Glenn, I'm sure that your Society of Chicks with Dicks get-togethers are most amusing

so many racist gay boys with the same old tired taste in what they like.

grow up and join the rest of us in the 21st century ladies.

This explains why she is not cast much

Streep, etc became famous when they were young. Their career path was not the same as Viola, who never will be a film star. I hope she finds peace.

I’d love to see Viola in a leading role.

That’s great! I’m sure she’s listed so give her a jingle.

I like Viola Davis, but Regina King, Kerry Washington, and Octavia Spencer all have more range, and are more likable than she is.

The one who should be a star is Lupita Nying’o.

I love Gabrielle Union and Kerrry Washington too.

The funny thing is that Viola IS now doing better than Sigourney and Julianne

She sounds like Jada Pinkett if Jada gave up pussy and had a little more class.

[quote] Why does she sound arrogant? She has to speak up for her accomplishments because she isn’t being given the same opportunities as her contemporaries.

She doesn't sound arrogant.

Some people have a real problem with others (especially black women) listing their actual accomplishments.

And everything she's saying is right.

Hell even here the only time you see a Viola Davis related thread is when people are going to make fun of her. The little film gays never mention her but will gush over Julianne Moore. She is just as accomplished as she is.

And in person Viola is INCREDIBLY nice as is her usual stand-in she regularly works with on productions.

[quote]I like Viola Davis, but Regina King, Kerry Washington, and Octavia Spencer all have more range, and are more likable than she is.

Viola and Regina are almost on the same level acting wise.

Kerry and Ocatvia don't have their range. The idea that you'd include Kerry in the same breath as the others is laughable.

You might as well have said Halle Berry.

Viola has the gravitas none of the others naturally possess.

Lupita should be a bigger star but she has an entirely different problem than the others.

Also agree that Octavia is very talented

Viola please find your director and material

These rules have been posted for years

Octavia needs to drop that mmmm hmmm oh no you don't fat sassy domestic worker of some kind act.

IMHO if the successful people including POC are not hiring you, maybe it’s an appeal issue? Viola has turned in several great performances on film so I am not sure what she is asking for? Better script offers? The system doesn’t work that way unless you are desired both behind and in front of the camera.

Making her a pie as I type.

R70, you can like Viola Davis without a) making up shit b) expressing (internalized) homophobia. The “little film gays” are not at all concerned with Julianne Moore, since it is not 2005. There have been plenty who admire Viola Davis’ work, while noting her terrible professional instincts.

Maybe her point is they had many opportunities why didn’t I? I would say her age and no box office. Her path has been The Help to that Netflix comedy about summer camp. You have to be a muse. Or produce

I always thought she was more like the black Someone-Else.

She sounds like she has entitlement-attitude where she expects roles to just be given to her. She complains about having to get on the phone and beg for roles. Guess what, Meryl had to beg for the role in Sophie's Choice when she was already an Oscar winner at that point.

I like Viola Davis, and she is a superb actress, but she isnt in the same league as Streep. Seriously. Viola Davis always plays a version of herself. Im not knocking it, it suits her abilities well, but she lacks versatility.

She's unpretty for a leading lady. If she looks like Halle Berry or Kerry Washington, then maybe?

O Viola. You're fiftysomething and doing TV. You have peaked my dear. Face it.

Viola w Meryl going face to face. Great acting from both actors.

Streep? No. She is the Black Cloris Leachman.

Meryl Sweety...

R23 is right. And she's already worked with Shonda Rhimes, who put her in a starring role in the top spot on Thursdays, where Shonda had every prime-time ABC series . Personally, she does seem more like a character actor to me and I was a bit surprised by the Shonda show starring role.

I'm also an actor about Viola Davis' age, I didn't know she went to Juilliard. I would have liked to have gone to Juilliard....but, as the brilliant Joe Mankiewicz wrote in "All About Eve",

"I wish I'd gone to Radcliffe too but father wouldn't hear of it - he needed help at the notions counter."

Someone needs to tell her Hollywood is a game, and the winners at least pretend to be likable and gracious!

Is "G" Glenn Close or Gwyneth Paltrow or someone else?

I see her more as the Black Shirley Booth.

[quote]Is "G" Glenn Close or Gwyneth Paltrow or someone else?

It's for Gandhi, Rose.

They all think they can but most can't.

Poor Viola. At least M never had to resort to a TV series

[quote] —Miss Julia Roberts, America's Sweetie 1.0

Bitch, you're more like 29.0

My partner loves to “act” like Viola Davis— straight face, talks with intensity about some mundane thing, ending with tears

I do not care.

It's better than being the Black Joyce DeWitt!

R91, Meryl was a supporting character in S2 of 'Big Little Lies' and has said she wants to come back if they do a S3. She was amazing in it, of course, and acted circles around Reese, Nicole, Laura Dern, and that other one (the girl who never bathes...Shirline?).

People need to not forget Meryl has a history of swimming in the TV pool.

Viola was.in Widows - that flopped

Cynthia from Harriet and others are hotter at moment

Julia could never come back after kids. She can’t even get nominated anymore

Viola is just bitter that I beat her for one of those cleaning lady films she does. Funny. She did manage to have the loser reactions scrubbed from the Academy's youtube station of my third win.

Remember this was when she so dramatically didn't wear a wig and was going to inspire little girls everywhere to be natural. Oh well. Did she wear a wig when she eventually won. I don;t follow the supporting categories.

r87 G is Glenn Close

www.goop.com is Gwyneth

Viola should be referred to as VD.

I understand why Viola is talented, but isn't really a big deal. But I don't understand why Angela wasn't a Big, Big deal.

r102 she's too butch

Julia has 1 nomination after kids. And she mopped the floor with Meryl to get it.

It was just a supporting nomination r104. Barely counts.

Oh my sides. Bless you for trying

Meryl @106 are you availabe for pilot season? My friend Jules recommended you.

R98, Widows flopped, but in ten years people will be talking about it far more than Fences. With its subject matter and pedigree, it was almost designed to die at the box office yet be resurrected by film geeks.

What really matters now is what she can do to bet a Grammy and complete her EGOT. It’s easier for comedians like Whoopi who can do a stand up album.

She could produce some biopics. Problem is she's more suitable for the Hattie McDaniel story while she thinks she's more suitable for the Halle Berry story.

All she needs to do is a spoken word album, R110. It shouldn’t be difficult to find the right project. (Jeremy Irons, Glenda Jackson, Jessica Lange, Frances McDormand, Helen Mirren, Al Pacino, Christopher Plummer, Vanessa Redgrave, Geoffrey Rush and Maggie Smith are the other living actors who only need the Grammy; Davis is the youngest, and probably the only one who cares).

Miss Davis would be assured a Grammy if she narrated the audiobook version of this classic bio.

Whoopi should not have an Oscar. Awful performance in a ridiculous movie that actually showed you shadows of ghosts and it didn't make you laugh. I laughed til the credits.

Whoopi's EGOT is suspect all around. The Tony is just for investing in Throughly Modern Millie (after she for some reason didn't take the part meant for her) and the Emmy is just a daytime Emmy.

No one will be talking about Widows. That movie is awful

Reese, Nicole and Jennifer Aniston are all bigger than Julia now. All of her comeback projects have been flops and good riddance. Complete CU_T

Bitch please R115 rebranding as a TV personality is nothing short of embarrassing. .

She tries hard to be sexy and... she's not. That limits the roles she's offered.

She's a good actress but I find she doesn't have a lot of range. It's always those intense powerful monlogues that are her strong suit.

Isn't there a nice maid role for her?

I always have to laugh at Viola talking about her character in HTGAWM like she’s playing Lady Macbeth or something. ANNALISE this and ANNALISE that. Bitch, please. 🙄

R119 I dipped out after season 2 but I was so disappointed in her character. She was written as if she was this ball busting mastermind, but every other episode she was sobbing on her hands and knees to some character or other begging for forgiveness for being a fucking idiot. Glad the show was a hit for her but I want better for Viola

R116, thank you! These bitches love to drag Julia as if she didn't single-handedly dominate the 90s with her romcoms and becoming the first actress to receive 20 million per picture.

Reese, Nicole, and Jennifer Aniston were never on Julia's level and never will be.

An easy comparison for Viola is to look at the roles that get award nominations and ask yourself whether a black woman would seriously be considered for those roles, i.e. taking into account historical accuracy. And even then would having a black actress change the dynamic of the role - i.e. Sally Hawkins in The Shape Of Water and Frances McDormand in Three Billboards. Both films covered racism towards other characters.

How would a black actress playing Amy on Gone Girl have changed the dynamic of the [SPOILER ALERT] scheming manipulative bitch?

10 of the last 20 Best Actress winners have played real life white women.

They are beyond Julia’s level. Where have you been? The 1990’s are over.

Viola doesn’t have the range or appeal to play those roles. Audiences would shrug, huh?

Being called a faggot is traumatic.

Being called a n8**34 is traumatic.

It’s not a fucking contest!!

r107 Ryan ... Isn't Meryl appearing in your version of "The Prom?"

Viola is...a suspicious large woman.

If Viola Davis had a publicist they would stop her from giving these types of interviews forever.

Viola is sick of all you racist bitches.

Viola is sick of all you racist bitches.

Her age isnt helping her either. Shes not exactly an ingenue.

Viola is not suffering

Can we start calling her BLEEP? Or BLERYL?

She’s more like CHERYL Streep!

Good casting

I’d like to say this diplomatically, but she’s fugly as fuck. That’s what weighs on her career.

Is she lamenting the lack of roles, or the lack of paychecks? She earned more money from her run on HTGAWM than most will make in a lifetime. If it's about the work, move back to NYC and devote yourself to the theatre. I don't hear Audra McDonald complaining.

You bitches dare not call me the white Viola Davis.

R136 it's the money. She said in the same interview she should be paid the same. And great point, Audra is a better actress than snooty Viola but hasn't had half her chances.

She’s not ugly r135. I think that she is attractive. She should wear her natural hair more, though. The wigs look artificial on someone with her strong African features.

Ugly, we can agree to disagree about that.

Without her makeup and wig, she’s indistinguishable from a man, a super fugly man.

Why don’t people pay me?

I don’t recall Meryl drowning in snot when she cries in a film.

Viola's point in this is that (some people) call her "the black Meryl Streep", as a compliment. Viola has latched onto this.

In this interview she then questions why she isn't paid the same. She completely fails to understand that Meryl is paid not for her reputation but for the amount of money her movies make.

Lots of Meryl's contempories (apart from not getting any leading roles) don't get paid that much either. Salary is in line with expected profit.

The likes of JLO, Cameron Diaz. Jlaw, Reese, Emma Stone etc each have earned much more for movies than Streep. Again, Viola wants something to complain about and won't recognise Streep is paid more because the studio expects good returns.

If Viola could open movies and had box office clout, her salary would rise.

Agree. It’s unfortunate that she is promoting this belief. It implies she should make the same salary because she went to a good school and won awards.

She started late and has not proved she can open a film. Why would she be paid more because of her school or awards? Audiences don’t care and studios don’t think this way.

Viola is a character actress, not a movie star. I hope she continues to do well but complaining when you have a $12 million fortune doesn’t ring true.

If Viola is the black Meryl Streep, who is the black Glenn Close?

I would say Mo'nique, but at least Mo'nique has an Oscar.

PS, at least Viola has a film in the can (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom). If that does well and she gets an Oscar nomination, then she will be in the top tier. It it fizzles, then it’s back to the drawing board like everyone else.

Think Viola is ugly? Meryl and Glenn aren’t great beauties either, but their talent is focused on more because white privilege...

Of course there is white privilege. No one is denying that. However, Viola started late as a character actress. Has she ever played the love interest in a movie? No, because she is too homely for anyone to believe that. Could any number of the other talented black actresses listed here convincingly play a love interest? Yes. Viola wants what she can’t have.

I like her but Vi sounds deluded if she ever believed she could be a leading lady. She has a very masculine energy, isn't a great beauty like say Halle and many times seems to be acting in a bubble with her partner right in front of her. She overacts and goes into overwrought unnecessary theatrics and stops communicating with the other actor. That's why I liked her contained work in Doubt the most of her portrayals.

She thinks she should be paid based on her education and competence of her work, as if she’s in a profession like medicine or education. She doesn’t understand that Hollywood is a money-making enterprise. She’s creating a product, a film, for sale. If nobody wants to pay to see it, then you’re shit out of luck, Miss Davis.

Has Denzel Washington ever done a sex scene or a romantic comedy? Not that I can think of. Would Tyler Perry ever do a romantic comedy with Viola as the lead? No chance.

Don’t you know who I am???

Boo hoo.

Viola Davis is beautiful to me, striking even. She has a gorgeous dark brown complexion and like Lupita, looks stunning wearing light colors. She may not be sexy, but she's regal.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

I didn’t know she had fallen on hard times! Condolences

Viola is talented and seems like a sweet woman. But she doesnt have the work pedigree of the women she named. Theey have been around for decades leading in films (with the exception of Sigpurney who has been MIA for years).

I totally forgot that Viola Davis played ANOTHER maid, her massah was Julianne Moore.

[quote]...and many times seems to be acting in a bubble with her partner right in front of her. She overacts and goes into overwrought unnecessary theatrics and stops communicating with the other actor.

An acting teacher I know calls this "Big Bad Acting"! I agree.

I would love to see her act with the DL Queen of Unnecessary Theatrics.

R161 that's fucking hilarious! If Viola was playing that scene there would be snot dripping, tears flowing, lip quivering.

Viola would have been haranguing that white woman, telling her all the suffr'in black women have endured for ovah 200 years! Someone off camera would have asked them to keep it down and Viola would have screamed I WILL NOT BE SILENT ANY LONGER!

Oooh, my white guilt level keeps on risin’!

I thought Viola intended to go into grave-digging, so she could exhume the bodies to tell their stories? This was largely prompted by many people continuously asking her what sort of stories she wanted to tell..

It's a shame she gets called the black Meryl Streep, considering Viola can actually act and convincingly emote. In every single role I've ever seen Meryl in I've felt like she was playing herself, or at least some part of her. It never felt like I was watching a character, it just felt like watching Meryl Streep.

Viola on the other hand can actually convincingly immerse you into her roles.

M. has more range than Viola. Can Viola do comedy. Has she ever done comedy?

She has the career Octavia Spencer deserves. Octavia is far more talented, can deliver emotional performances with subtlety (unlike the mannish wailing Viola does on HTGAWM), and on top of it all Octavia is genuinely a nice person and a pleasure to work with.

But unlike Viola, Octavia hasn't been getting starring roles in acclaimed TV shows. The most she's gotten is the starring role in a B-Horror Movie.

Give Viola Davis' career to Octavia Spencer!!!

R167 I thought her pompous speeches were an attempt at humor?

[quote]It's a shame she gets called the black Meryl Streep, considering Viola can actually act and convincingly emote. In every single role I've ever seen Meryl in I've felt like she was playing herself, or at least some part of her. It never felt like I was watching a character, it just felt like watching Meryl Streep.

Meryl hasn't been Meryl in a long time. She has coasted on her reputation and goodwill in the industry.

I love that her fans keep bringing up her number of Oscar nominations. Prada was the last nomination she deserved (and should have won for). She's gotten many nominations based on sheer name recognition and/or filler slots. For someone who's supposed to be the greatest actress in modern times, this doesn't make a good case for it. Watching clips of her in that Witherspoon series is like some sketch comedians take on Streep's acting. It's all broad surfaces and gimmicks.

Viola, Monique and Wanda Sykes have all made the same complaints. Monique actually came with the receipts to show why she should have been paid more money.

If Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston can get a million dollar an episode paydays for acting in that Morning Show thing on Apple, despite neither being an audience draw in over a decade, then black women who have proven track records can be paid better.

Streep is probably the most versatile actor ever. She can do light or heavy drama, comedy and musical comedy, and go from glam to plain and keep her audience. She is the only star I can think of - besides Elizabeth Taylor - that got more popular as she aged. Steep is also the first one to be a big box office star post-40.

I don’t think anyone literally meant Viola is the black Meryl Streep because we know Viola is very different. My issue is that Viola has elevated herself to the best black actress, when many others are more talented and versatile.

Try calling her the "Negro Meryl Streep." Maybe she'll like that more.

R168, Octavia starred in the heavily hyped 'Red Band Society' in 2014; for whatever reason, it didn't make it. But she continually works and continually doesn't complain, and so people hire her and enjoying working with her.

You don't get paid like Meryl Streep because you're not a box office draw like Streep. You also don't get paid the same as Will Smith. It's not because you're Black.

[quote]Streep is probably the most versatile actor ever.

No.

[quote]She can do light or heavy drama, comedy and musical comedy, and go from glam to plain and keep her audience.

She can't do sexy.

[quote]She is the only star I can think of - besides Elizabeth Taylor - that got more popular as she aged.

Katharine Hepburn, Angela Lansbury would disagree with you.

[quote]Steep is also the first one to be a big box office star post-40.

Wrong. Marie Dressler was the biggest box office star in the country for several years in the 1930's. And she was older than Streep when she achieved that honor.

I thought Meryl was sexy in Madison County and Silkwood

R177, you’ve been in prison since the 80s?

It's a false equvilency. Whether you think Meryl is great or not, she has the reputation of being the greatest living actress. When Viola beats about being called the black Meryl she is automatically raising herself into that sphere. And as others have pointed out, there are several black actresses more deserving of that recognition

None of those women were consistent box office stars in their 30’s 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

I get that you don’t like her but she has been a groundbreaking actress.

Has Vi ever done nudity?

*equivalency, sorry

NO!!!

Meryl Streep as Viola Davis in The Viola Davis Story. Oscar #4.

r178, BridgesofMC came out in 1995 you annoying little twat.

Streep had two men after her in It’s Complicated. It was another one of her movies that made over $100 million.

She is so popular that people start talking about her instead of ME!!!

Meryl lost out on the Oscar for Bridges of Madison County to Berned-Out Cunt Susan Sarandon who won that year.

No she didn't R187

[quote]Meryl Streep as Viola Davis in The Viola Davis Story. Oscar #

Over my dead body!

I can’t wait until Bob the Drag Queen does his impression of Viola’s rant

Truth is, no one can do what I do.

I have a Mamie, and she plays Mammies.

Does anyone know what Viola was paid for Suicide Squad? Can she give me a loan?

Who paid for her to go to Julliard and spend a summer at Circle in the Square theater school AND got to college.

She always makes her childhood sound like she was poverty stricken.

Probably scholarships R194.

Barely getting by

Only three nominations. She's more the black Susan (Sigourney) Weaver than she is me. I'm well into double digits. Sig just has 3.

Life goals

You can too!

Someone asked upthread who is the black Glenn Close if Viola Davis is the black Meryl Streep? I nominate Angela Bassett.

Dream big my darling!

Has anyone suggested a financial advisor?

[quote] who is the black Glenn Close

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Hasn’t Viola only been famous for 12 years?

Spencer is a great everywoman character actress who elevates everything she does even a cheesy horror movie. Whoever said Davis has more range then spencer is nuts. As mentioned above Davis doesn’t do comedy and Spencer can soar in it.

r194, I believe I've heard her say before that she grew up in abject poverty. Her first cousin is actor, Mike Colter. I wonder how he grew up. That is one talented family.

As I said to Miss Faye Dunaway when she kept complaining about no roles for older actresses: you have money, hire a writer to write you something and then produce and film it.

r203, Excuse me one of those people do NOT have an Oscar.

[quote] Spencer is a great everywoman character actress who elevates everything she does even a cheesy horror movie. Whoever said Davis has more range then spencer is nuts. As mentioned above Davis doesn’t do comedy and Spencer can soar in it.

Cheers to that!

r205, You trolls are always tryna pit black against black. We strong this summer. You cannot destroy our collective greatness.

Mike Colter is hawt. I never knew that was her cousin.

Viola, GFY with your Oscar!

I am going to recite Viola’s rant during my next evaluation

Octavia was even brutally murdered by MIchael Myers, let Viola top that

Meryl was probably making less than Viola during her lean years in the 1990s and early 2000s until she started having hits

I'm the younger Meryl Streep

Why would anyone want to be a seventeen time Oscar loser?

Aim higher, Viola

[quote]who is the black Glenn Close

Will Smith.

R217 18 losses actually

18 losses simply means the academy voted that she gave one of the top 5 female performances of the year but was not voted as best overall.

[quote]18 losses simply means the academy voted that she gave one of the top 5 female performances of the year but was not voted as best overall.

She didn't deserve some of those nominations. The Academy should have passed on:

Into The Woods

Julie & Julia

Doubt

[quote]18 losses simply means the academy voted that she gave one of the top 5 female performances of the year but was not voted as best overall.

Hepburn managed to get four in less tries.

The Academy should have also passed on The Devil Wears Prada, but I guess saying that is blasphemous around these parts.

Whether she was judged to be one of the top 5 performances each year depends a great deal on how good or craptastic all other performances were that particular year.

No one cares about Katharine Hepburn anymore. Her ugly Yankee accent is so grating.

I swear that they nominated Meryl one year and she didn’t even make a film.

This is just like real life. People stop talking about Viola and talk about other stars.

She has done some good things but I think she is overestimating herself.

Ever see her walk? Very ungraceful.

Hepburn got sympathy Oscars for Guess Who's and Golden Pond - and 1/2 an Oscar for Lion In Winter. Babs deserved that one all by her lonesome.

Viola can be very touchy. You should see how offended she was when I asked her to do a little vacuuming the last time she visited my house.

R222 that means Kate only had 12 times where she gave a top 5 performance

R229 YES! She has a very odd, stiff, lurching walk with one arm swinging up and down in front of her like a march. For someone who is so good at inhabiting a character it’s a pretty distracting constant across all of her performances.

I fucking adore Viola. Her performance as Annalise Keating is some of the best I've ever seen on TV shows. She has the right to be pissed about being called "the black Meryl Streep". She's in a league of her own, and should be respected.

If Viola Davis is the black Meryl Street, what was Cicely Tyson? The black Bette Davis?

No one calls her that.

[quote]She has the right to be pissed about being called "the black Meryl Streep".

Then she should stop calling herself that.

I like her natural hair better than her wigs and weaves. She’s so attractive with the Afro.

It's a wig, darlin'.

How about Meryl is the white Viola Davis?

R18 Or CCH Pounder, even.

I'm sick of being called the "Jersey City Nancy Cunard" just because I like dark meat and inherited a bit of cash.

R240 That's illogical. Meryl came first. I happen to agree with Davis, in that I'd initially take that as a compliment. But after a while, it would definitely grate on me.

As someone else said, she's not Meryl. Meryl has range, she doesn't.

Ask Harvey about Meryl's range.

Gymnasts wish they were that limber.

Viola is the only person saying this!

Meryl was too old for Harvey when he wanted to work with her for prestige. She already had clout.

I think Viola seems to be doing better than ever.

[quote]Hepburn managed to get four in less tries.

Fewer.

Can Viola play German heroines during the war, or Italian mothers who fall in love with a photographer, or Margaret Thatcher? Didn't think so. And face it, Vi, the kind of movies you like to play in are not exactly the kind they pay 15 dollars for in Pomona. Or in Beverly Hills. THAT is why they are not offering you the kind of money Meryl gets. Or Johnny. Or Gwyneth. Or Denzel.

And Streep isn't sick of it, Viola?

Huuuuuge chip on her shoulder that will never cease consequently putting off potential audiences who would otherwise gladly pay to see her except they don't want to be subjected to that endless poor me I'm a victim look how I suffer routine.

Viol has nowhere near Meryl's box office draw. Meryl has a built in audience who come to see her popcorn movies like Hope Springs, Florence Foster Jenkins, Ricki, The Post, Its Complicated, The Iron Lady, Julie&Julia etc. All those movies made a bundle. Viola doesn't have that same get-asses-on-seats ability, that's why she isn't paid the same.

Viola Davis is not the black Meryl Streep, Meryl Streep is the white Viola Davis.

I liked her "no makeup reveal". I'd see a movie with her looking like this playing an everyday woman.

She can't do accents.

I still think she’s doing better now than Julianne Moore and Sigourney Weaver. Hopefully Netflix is paying her a ton of money.

I know some of you are just being flip for a laugh, but in all seriousness, accents and kooky voices ≠ range. Meryl was serious as a heart attack for 20 years before she really got started on her comedy phase Viola could do it, but that’s not the point.

Not true, R256. She-Devil, Postcards from the Edge, Death Becomes Her, etc. In theater, Taming of the Shrew. Meryl definitely has a light touch that comes across in everything, even some of her dramatic roles. I am yet to see Viola lighten up, even in interviews. I respect your need to protect her but, accents aside, Viola ain't no Meryl.

Was her Amanda Waller funny? I never watched that movie.

No it took Meryl a while to hit her stride as a comedienne.

It's understandable and reciprocal.

Meryl has been sick of being called "The White Token" for years.

When does Viola’s Black Bottom come out? She sings as Ma Rainey and wears a fat suit? Break a leg!

[quote]You just know S. Epatha Merkerson is rolling her eyes at Viola Davis.

Yes! I've been around Patha a number of times and she is extremely candid and not into any bullshit. She's also a total pro and very nice.