May 22, 2022 at 9:59 pm

Viola Davis Gives Empowering Speech While Being Honored at Women in Motion Awards During Cannes 2022

The 56-year-old Oscar-winning actress was honored during the 2022 Women in Motion Awards hosted by Kering held during the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on Sunday (May 22) at Place de la Castre in Cannes, France.

Taking the stage to accept the award, Viola gave an empowering speech.

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“It means an acknowledgement of my legacy, which is what I want to shift the narrative of women of color to,” Viola said via Forbes. “It’s no longer acceptable for us to be defined by men, defined by any other structure other than ourselves, and it became obvious to me as I was progression in my career that I had to be the change that I wanted to see, and that why we started this. I want to see black women for the beautiful complicated beings that they are.”

Supporting Viola at the event was her husband Julius Tennon.

Also honored during the event was Swedish film director Ninja Thyberg, who won the Women in Motion Young Talent Award.

Other stars in attendance included Edgar Ramirez, Isabelle Huppert, Riz Ahmed, Passing director Rebecca Hall, Black Panther actress Letitia Wright, Normal People actor Paul Mescal, Slave Play playwright Jeremy O. Harris, and Lamb actress Noomi Rapace.

Pregnant model Adriana Lima also attended the event with boyfriend Andre Lemmers along with fellow model Carla Bruni and Chairman and CEO of Kering Francois Henri Pinault.

If you missed it, there are reports going around that Viola has a new HBO Max series in the works!

FYI: Viola is wearing Alexander McQueen. Isabelle is wearing a dress by Balenciaga. Letitia is wearing an Alexander McQueen outfit. Rebecca is wearing a Gucci suit. Noomi is wearing a Moschino dress. Adriana is wearing a Roberto Cavalli dress. Carla is wearing a Saint Laurent dress.