Viola Davis starring as The Women King

July 2022

The Woman King, which will storm into theaters on September 16, tells the story of the Agojie (also known as Amazons), a real-life army of women warriors who defended the powerful West African kingdom of Dahomey in present-day Benin during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. (John Boyega plays King Ghezo.) Vanity Fair spoke to Davis and Prince-Bythewood about this unprecedented action-drama, which has been described as a Black female Braveheart.

Vanity Fair: Viola, I think viewers will be amazed by your beefed-up physical transformation. You really trained hard to play General Nanisca.

Viola Davis: We started intensely a few months before shooting—four hours a day, five days a week. Weight training, sprinting, martial arts, and weaponry training for the machete. I like to say that I was the OG warrior. [Laughs.]

How did it feel to connect with the largely unknown history of the Agojie?

Viola Davis: It was a different state of mind to tap into that spirit—that bravery. Certainly, that’s not a mindset that I carry on a day-to-day basis. I’m someone who carries pepper spray and a little alarm on my keychain.

The battle scenes in the film appear to be graphic, and culturally specific. We see dark-skinned Black women with well-oiled bodies, muscles, and serrated fingernails that are used as murder weapons.

Gina Prince-Bythewood: My approach was that you don’t need to add anything to the story. These women were fascinating and didn’t need to be embellished or glossy. I wanted it to be real and visceral and raw.

Viola, you’ve said this film is your magnum opus.

Viola Davis: I’ve never had a role like this before. It’s transformative. And to be a producer on it, and to know that I had a hand in bringing it to fruition…. There’s always a vision you have for your career, but there are very few roles as an actress of color. Dark skin with a wide nose and big lips. I’m just gonna continue to say it. Those stories are extraordinarily limited.

What were you most afraid of in taking on this project?

Viola Davis: I knew what it would mean to us as Black people. Something that has never been done before. And what it would mean for Black women sitting in that movie theater. The responsibility is really high.

Gina Prince-Bythewood: Fear is a thing you can let swallow you up, or push you to excellence. It’s scary as hell.

Viola, what makes Gina unique as a director?

Viola Davis: Integrity. Integrity is in short supply in this business. Her skill set. Her vision. Her passion. I didn’t feel like I had to work so hard to explain myself as a Black woman—my inner narrative.

Gina Prince-Bythewood: There are very few who are truly great at what they do. Serena Williams. Beyoncé. And Viola. She creates an environment where you bring your A game. She made her character better. She made scenes better.

Most of your audience won’t know anything about this buried history. How much did you both know about the Agojie when you came to this project?

Viola Davis: The only thing I knew, literally, was that there were women somewhere in Africa that were called Amazons.

Gina Prince-Bythewood: All I knew was that the Dora Milaje in Black Panther were based on real warriors.

Read the full article HERE

Credit: Kristal Brent Zook, Vanity Fair, 5th July 2022