For Viola Davis, making a movie like G20 was not just about making an action movie. It was about creating a space for women of color. Remezcla had a chance to talk to Davis during the Rio premiere of the movie, and the actress made it clear that she saw her role as not just the lead in the Prime Video action film, where she plays the President of the United States, but one of the producers, as one that allowed her to open doors for others.
“I think that that’s probably your job once you experience any level of success where you have more power and autonomy. It’s like they say, when you become free, it’s your job to free others. And that’s how I see my legacy,” Davis shared. “My legacy is not just about me, it’s just not. I was on the sidelines at one point until someone gave me an opportunity. That’s all it takes. The opportunity becomes the conduit to show the world your excellence.”
That’s when she brought up the movie’s director, Patricia Riggen. As a producer herself, and her production company JuVee Productions helping to produce G20, she had a hand in picking this Mexican director. “Patricia Riggen has always been Patricia Riggen. She’s great, brave, brilliant, all of those things. It just took, I think, me, my husband, any number of people to say, we want you to direct G20. And then that’s it. That becomes her coming out.”
G20 is the kind of action movie we’re used to seeing men excel at. Except this time it’s Davis who is, as they say, kicking ass and taking names. And doing so not in heels, but in red sneakers. Davis also spoke about that choice of having a woman director and the female gaze being such an important part of the movie.
“I remember the first time I said to myself, just a simple thought, which is, why do I have to wear heels? And then the answer is always, you go down the rabbit hole, because it looks pretty. But why do heels look pretty? Because they do, because men like heels. Women like heels, yeah, but I don’t like them. And then you keep going down until you discover, I don’t want to wear heels. And I don’t think I have to. And then you have the bravery to make that choice.”
For Davis, there’s something very important about the kind of thinking where you question norms, especially when it comes to women, and where it leads. “That’s my responsibility as an artist, to have those revelations about women. I think that we have to redefine ourselves. We have to take back the narrative. And the more people we have in leadership who are brave, we can do it.”
It’s not just about the President of the United States wearing sneakers in an action movie like G20, it’s about the conversations that choice will inspire. That’s the message Davis wanted to send, above all things. “You have to do you. That’s the ticket. You do you. That’s your journey in life. Everything else is the cosmic carrot, as they say.”
“Whether you’re president or whether you’re the CEO of a company or whether you want to be a great athlete, it’s the who you’re becoming. And it’s got to be on your terms. And you have to figure out, how can it be on my terms? And a lot of times with females, it’s on someone else’s terms. So, we just have to figure that out in life, right?”
Take it from Viola Davis.
G20 is now available to stream on Prime Video.
