Viola Davis, the acclaimed actress, is once again pushing boundaries, this time by tackling physically demanding action scenes as she approaches 60. In her upcoming thriller, G20, Davis stars as fearless US President Danielle Sutton, who must defend her loved ones and fellow world leaders when the G20 summit is hijacked by terrorists. Davis, describing herself as a “woman of a certain age,” has opened up about her fitness regime and her determination to represent real-life capabilities on screen, challenging conventional Hollywood expectations.
Embracing Strength: Davis’s Fitness Philosophy
Viola Davis has never shied away from roles that demand physical strength and resilience. She maintains a fitness philosophy centered around building a capable and strong physique, rather than adhering to unrealistic beauty standards.
- Weight Lifting Routine: Davis has detailed the weight lifting routine she committed to in preparation to shoot high energy action sequences in Patricia Riggen’s new thriller G20. She maintained the same routine she adopted when prepping for The Woman King.
- Representing Real Life: Davis told The Times “I’m not one of those women who is afraid to look muscular, and I don’t believe in losing a whole lot of weight so I can be magazine-ready. There’s still a part of me that wants to represent real life.”
- Looking Capable: Davis wanted to portray a leader “who’s willing to jump through the plate glass first.”
The Woman King Workout: A Foundation for Action
Davis’s preparation for G20 builds upon the intense training she underwent for her role in The Woman King, where she played Nanisca, a 19th-century African general. This prior experience provided a solid foundation of strength and agility.
- Gabriela Mclain’s Training: For The Woman King, Davis worked with personal trainer Gabriela Mclain, who designed a routine focused on building strength, not losing weight.
- Nutritional Support: Davis ate five protein-rich meals per day and drank a gallon of water to keep her muscles lubricated and aid in recovery, according to Harper’s Bazaar.
- Intense Daily Regimen: In the three months leading up to pre-production for The Woman King, Davis trained a minimum of five hours a day, including an hour of running, two hours of martial arts, and two hours of strength training.
- Strength Training Exercises: Her strength training included exercises like oblique twists, shoulder presses, squats, lateral rows, bicycle crunches, and chest presses.
Facing the Challenges: “Sometimes I Complained”
While Davis embraced the physical demands of her role in G20, she admitted that the grueling fight sequences weren’t always easy.
- Demanding Fight Choreography: Davis revealed she even had to trade blows with the hulking District 9 actor David James, who plays a terrorist.
- Finding Joy in the Challenge: Despite the challenges, Davis found moments of excitement and fulfillment, stating that “Six-year-old Viola squealed” at the opportunity to engage in such intense action.
Breaking Barriers: Redefining Action Heroines
Viola Davis’s willingness to take on action roles at this stage in her career challenges ageist stereotypes in Hollywood and redefines what an action heroine can look like.
- No Limits: “I don’t put any limits on myself. And at close to 60 years old,” Davis said, “I really feel until I’m in that grave. I’m not going to put any limits on my life, my life is mine it’s to live for me. And it feels fantastic is how it feels.
- Inner Child Pleased: Davis shared that fighting those big guys in the movie really pleased six-year-old Viola who like to take down the big boys.
- Political Neutrality: Davis said that President Sutton’s political party isn’t specified in G20 to avoid alienating Democrats or Republicans, emphasizing the film’s universal message.
- Imagining a Black President: “I do not think it’s a suspension of disbelief to imagine someone who looks like me as the president,” Davis asserted.
