News | Entertainment
7 Jul 2025 11:22
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
     07 Jul: Allison Williams was "devastated" after one of her Girls storylines got scrapped
     07 Jul: Ariana Madix is constantly seeking "inspo" for her Love Island USA looks
     07 Jul: Jessica Simpson has treated fans to a rare insight into her "heart of gold" son Ace's life as she marked his 12th birthday
     07 Jul: Keanu Reeves is thrilled to be fronting another Formula 1 docuseries - after he bagged an Emmy for a recent show on the motor racing event
     07 Jul: Raye finds "toxic" people "addictive"
     07 Jul: Lily Allen "can't remember" how many abortions she's had
     07 Jul: Kesha found her sudden rise to stardom to be "terrifying"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A fuel saving two-stop gamble has paid off for Scott Dixon More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Finance Minister says the Government's taking an opportunity to spread money further, through the FamilyBoost scheme More...



     Today's News

    Motoring:
    Shane van Gisbergen's secured a second win from three attempts at a disrupted Nascar street race in Chicago 11:07

    Business:
    The Finance Minister says the Government's taking an opportunity to spread money further, through the FamilyBoost scheme 11:07

    Entertainment:
    Allison Williams was "devastated" after one of her Girls storylines got scrapped 11:06

    Entertainment:
    Ariana Madix is constantly seeking "inspo" for her Love Island USA looks 10:36

    Business:
    The Government's expanding the its FamilyBoost scheme, with changes taking effect retrospectively from the start of this month 10:27

    National:
    Elon Musk says he may launch his own party: but US history tells us that’s not a recipe for success 10:27

    National:
    Why Texas Hill Country, where a devastating flood killed dozens, is one of the deadliest places in the US for flash flooding 10:17

    Maori:
    A Maori worldview describes the immune system as a guardian – this could improve public health in Aotearoa NZ 10:07

    Golf:
    Golfer Amelia Garvey has finished third at the Irish Open with a score of 14-under par overall 10:07

    Entertainment:
    Jessica Simpson has treated fans to a rare insight into her "heart of gold" son Ace's life as she marked his 12th birthday 10:06


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd