Viola Davis on Interracial Kiss With Liam Neeson in ‘Widows': ‘Elusive to Me Because of the Way I Look’
“You will not see that,” Oscar winner says of interracial love in movies
Meriah Doty | November 17, 2018 @ 5:00 PM
Last Updated: November 17, 2018 @ 5:09 PM
(Warning: A very light spoiler is discussed)
A deep, passionate kiss is shared by Viola Davis and Liam Neeson in the opening frames of “Widows,” immediately keying audiences into the fact that they’re not watching an ordinary crime thriller. This is a Steve McQueen crime thriller, by the director who won the Best Picture Oscar for “12 Years a Slave” and who also earned raves for his groundbreaking sex addiction drama “Shame,” starring Michael Fassbender.
“You will not see that,” Davis said of the intimate bedroom kiss between a black woman and white man depicted in the film. “I don’t care how much people say they’re committed to inclusivity — they’re not committed to that,” said the Oscar winner at a screening on the 20th Century Fox lot in Los Angeles, attended by McQueen and other cast members.
It’s an opening scene that arguably hasn’t been done in film. As Davis put it, to have “the opening shot in this movie where you have a dark-skinned woman with a big nose and wide lips and all of that and her natural hair kissing — romantically kissing a white man onscreen.”
“Widows,” co-written by McQueen and “Gone Girl” writer Gillian Flynn, is a remake of a 1980s British TV show. The film version is set in Chicago. It revolves around the women left behind, mourning the deaths of their criminal husbands as they navigate survival in a crime world they’ve suddenly inherited. It also stars Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Colin Farrell, Carrie Coon and Robert Duvall.
Rodriguez, also at Tuesday’s screening Q&A, chimed in on Davis’ thoughts on interracial love in movies: “The reality of the truth of the fabric of this country is multiracial. I can’t tell you how many Irish last names are on yellow, mixed race, African humans,” she said. “This is just a man who sees truth and he’s putting it on the screen,” Rodriguez added of McQueen.
“That right there has been elusive to me because of the way I look,” added Davis of her kissing scene with Neeson. “I’m just going to say it,” she added as the audience — mostly Screen Actors Guild members — erupted into applause. “Steve [McQueen], he didn’t want to hear that… He saw me as this woman. I migrate toward people who actually see me. I actually do have a vagina,” she concluded as the crowd cheered and laughed.
“Widows” opens in theaters Nov. 16.
50 Actresses Over 50 Who Still Rule Hollywood (Photos)
A Golden Globe-winning actress, Wright plays Claire Underwood in Netflix’s "House of Cards" and will appear in 2017's "Wonder Woman" and the long-awaited "Blade Runner" sequel.
Aside from the fact that she's the only black woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress, she most recently starred in "X-Men: Days of Future Past" and will be in "Kingsman: The Golden Circle."
Following the enormous success of her breakout series "Sex and the City," Jessica Parker starred in a string of romantic comedies. She stars in HBO's new with comedy "Divorce."
The Oscar nominee has been busy, voicing the mother in Pixar's "Inside Out," playing Cleo Trumbo in "Trumbo," and Martha Kent in 2013's "Man of Steel" and 2016's "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice."
Since the '80s, Fox has made a name for herself in both film and TV, including appearances in Fox's "Empire" and reprising her role as Jasmine Dubrow in "Independence Day: Resurgence."
The Oscar-winning Tomei maintains a tireless work ethic, playing roles in "The Big Short," "Captain America: Civil War," and 2017's "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
Since the end of ABC's "Cougar Town," Cox returned to acting in 2016's "Mothers and Daughters"and recently made her directorial debut with "Just Before I Go."
After turning heads in "The Passion of the Christ" and two of the three "Matrix" films, the Italian actress returned to the silver screen as a Bond girl in 2015's "Spectre."
This three-time Oscar and Tony nominee is working hard, with big roles in 2015's "Mr. Holmes," 2016's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows" and Clint Eastwood's "Sully."
Having appeared on several TV shows since the '90s, Hargitay is best known as Olivia Benson on "Law & Order: SVU" and for founding the Joyful Heart Foundation, which provides support to women who have been sexually abused.
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Ming-Na Wen (birthdate: 11/20/63)
In addition to being the enchanting voice of the heroine in Disney's "Mulan," Wen is known for her roles on "Stargate Universe" and ABC's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Since her days as a "Friends" leading lady, Kudrow has been active in film and TV, playing characters in Netflix’s "BoJack Horseman," "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising," and her short-lived show "The Comeback."
The "As Good As It Gets" actress drew acclaim in 2012 for her role in Sundance favorite "The Sessions" and has a recurring role in the Fox crime drama "Shots Fired."
Even after the end of ABC's "Ugly Betty" and the short-lived "666 Park Avenue," Williams managed to grab some guest spots on "The Good Wife" and "Broad City."
Whiledoing charity work for her anti-sex-trafficking foundation Thorn, Moore has starred in a few indie movies, including 2012's financial drama "Margin Call," 2013's "Very Good Girls," and 2016's "Wild Oats" with Jessica Lange and Shirley MacLaine.
After appearing in "Elysium" and "Carnage," the Oscar-winning actress took a break from acting and returned to directing with 2016's "Money Monster" starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts.
With a career that spans four decades, Jason Leigh has had recent success with two big hits from last year, voicing the titular character in "Anomalisa" and playing a racist outlaw in "The Hateful Eight," earning an Oscar nomination for the latter.
Since the end of the universally beloved "Seinfeld," Louis-Dreyfus has maintained her comedic chops, playing the lead in the CBS sitcom "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and now on HBO’s "Veep," which earned her five Emmys.
Despite the 2016 cancellation of her short-lived sitcom "Angel from Hell," Lynch has made strides in the past few years, first playing Sue Sylvester in Fox's musical dramedy "Glee" and as host of NBC's "Hollywood Game Night."
Having appeared in both mainstream and art-house films, Moore has received acclaim for her Academy Award-winning performance in "Still Alice"and played a crucial role in the "Hunger Games: Mockingjay" two-parter.
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Lorraine Toussaint (birthdate: 04/04/60)
Starting her career in theater before transitioning into film and TV, Toussaint has appeared in Ava DuVernay's "Selma" and the short-lived Fox series "Forever." She's also received praise for her work as Vee in Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black."
One of Hollywood and Britain's most accomplished performers, Thompson appeared in "Bridget Jones' Baby" in fall 2016 and the Disney reboot/remake of "Beauty and the Beast" in 2017.
An actress known for her roles in horror films and the 2003 comedy "Freaky Friday," Lee Curtis has shifted to TV, playing characters in Fox’s "New Girl" and "Scream Queens."
Though she's known primarily for her film roles, including her turn in Spike Lee's 2016 drama "Chi-Raq," Bassett is a TV regular, particularly in FX's anthology series "American Horror Story."
The three-time Academy Award nominee's recent film work includes Tim Burton's supernatural "Dark Shadows" and the crime comedy "The Family" with Robert De Niro. She reteamed with De Niro for the 2016 HBO movie "The Wizard of Lies."
After starring in 2013's "Lovelace" and the short-lived TNT drama "Agent X," the "Basic Instinct" actress had five movies lined up for 2016, including James Franco's "The Masterpiece."
In addition to being a TV personality, a two-time Oscar host and an LGBTQ advocate, DeGeneres found time to reprise her role as the forgetful blue tang in Pixar's 2016 hit "Finding Dory," the sequel to 2003's "Finding Nemo."
The Georgia-born Oscar winner returned to film in 2012 after a seven-year hiatus, and has since had roles in "Won't Back Down," "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," and Terrence Malick's 2016 movie "Weightless."
Known for her early '90s roles in "Sex, Lies, & Videotape," "Groundhog Day," and "Four Weddings and a Funeral," MacDowell made her way into TV in the 2013 Hallmark movie "Cedar Cove" and a brief cameo in 2015's "Magic Mike XXL." She has also been a spokesperson for L'Oreal since 1986.
The three-time Academy Award nominee appeared in 2015's acclaimed "Room" and ABC's mystery melodrama "The Family," cancelled in 2016 after just one season.
Russo, a Vogue model-turned-BAFTA nominated actress, juggled lots of roles in recent movies, including Marvel's "Thor," the neo-noir thriller "Nightcrawler," and the Nancy Meyers comedy "The Intern."
The actress and producer has kept busy since ending her long-running daytime talk show, overseeing her OWN network and appearing in series like "Greenleaf" and movies such as "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" and "A Wrinkle in Time."
The Golden Globe and SAG-winning actress starred in the 2016 crime comedy caper "The Nice Guys" and has a big role in 2017's "Fifty Shades Darker," the buzzy sequel to "Fifty Shades of Grey."
A well-known character actress, Steenburgen has appeared in several TV shows (Fox’s "The Last Man on Earth," Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black") and films ("Song One," "A Walk in the Woods"). In 2016, she stars in the drama "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" and the coming-of-age film "Katie Says Goodbye."
Since her breakthrough role in 1973’s “Live and Let Die,” Seymour has kept busy in projects like the 2016 spoof movie "Fifty Shades of Black" and the CW’s "Jane the Virgin."
One of the most recognized and active women working in Hollywood today, Streep is keeping her acclaimed acting streak alive. Recent projects include "Ricki in the Flash," "Suffragette," and 2016's "Florence Foster Jenkins."
The "Ghostbusters" alum has been in 12 movies since 2010, ranging from "Chappie" to "The Cabin in the Woods." She also has a cameo in 2016's female-led remake of "Ghostbusters."
A multiple Oscar, Golden Globe, and SAG winner, Lange has been drawing acclaim since the '80s, especially for her performance in FX’s "American Horror Story."
Since her breakout debut in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather Part II," Coll has had recurring TV roles in shows like "Switched at Birth," "Glee" and "Teen Wolf." She stars as Alba Villanueva in the CW's "Jane the Virgin."
The "Fatal Attraction" star garnered praise for her long-running drama series "Damages" and played a small but crucial role in "Guardians of the Galaxy," which she reprises in the 2017 sequel.
The Oscar winner is another one of Hollywood's biggest and most active actresses, including memorable turns in movies like "Trumbo," "Eye in the Sky," "Woman of Gold" and "Unity."
Cicely Tyson is 92 and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Most recently, she's starred in notable films like "The Help," and has a recurring role on "How to Get Away With Murder."
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Nicole Kidman joins Robin Wright, Viola Davis, and Laura Linney among the stars making waves on screen
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