Viola Davis Regrets Her Role

Netflix

Nearly a decade ago, millions of people went to see the hit film The Help, based on the book of the same name by Kathryn Stockett. Then, in 2021, the film once again became the talk of the world when it nabbed the number one spot on Netflix. For those who missed it, it follows an aspiring author during the civil rights movement. In the midst of the '60s, she decides to write a book from an African American maids' point of view. As she does research, the author realizes just how hard their lives are.

However, not all of the cast remembers the film fondly. According to actress Viola Davis, who played Aibileen Clark, says the white voices in the movie overpower the Black ones. That's certainly quite the accusation. While Davis understands why people love the film, she cannot hold back her feelings anymore. "There's no one who's not entertained by The Help," the How to Get Away With Murder recently said. "But there's a part of me that feels like I betrayed myself, and my people, because I was in a movie that wasn't ready to [tell the whole truth]."

Issues Bigger Than The Help

Viola Davis Isn’t Very Fond of ‘The Help’

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Davis feels that, for a movie about Black issues, The Help does not give them enough screen time. Even worse, it focuses more on the white side of things. The white audience at the most can sit and get an academic lesson into how we are. Then they leave the movie theater, and they talk about what it meant. They're not moved by who we were," Davis added. She hopes that one day films will just view Black people as normal, everyday people - not just "the help" or people that always need a helping hand. "There's not enough opportunities out there to bring that unknown, faceless Black actress to the ranks of the known. To pop her!"

Today, Davis is doing everything she can to help other BIPOC actors and actresses find their place in Hollywood. While Davis has participated in many Black Lives Matter protests, she also feels that she's been working towards a solution her entire life.

"I feel like my entire life has been a protest. Me not wearing a wig at the Oscars in 2012 was my protest. It is a part of my voice, just like introducing myself to you and saying, 'Hello, my name is Viola Davis.'" What a fantastic way to look at things!