--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Viola Davis should be a household name…" description: "\"Viola Davis should be a household name. So should Angela Bassett.\" — Rutina Wesley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/rutina-wesley-10216_davis_viola-davis-should-be-a-household-name-s_837032.jpg" --- # Viola Davis should be a household name. So should Angela… ![“Viola Davis should be a household name. So should Angela Bassett.” quote by Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/rutina-wesley-10216_davis_viola-davis-should-be-a-household-name-s_837032.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/rutina-wesley-10216_davis_viola-davis-should-be-a-household-name-s_837032.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/rutina-wesley-10216_davis_viola-davis-should-be-a-household-name-s_837032.jpg) > “Viola Davis should be a household name. So should Angela Bassett.” [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She advocates for broader recognition of Viola Davis and Angela Bassett, urging household name status. **In simple terms:** Both actresses deserve household fame. Key Takeaway Promote diverse talent widely. Themes representation celebrity equality Mood enthusiastic advocacy Type cultural industry When to use this quote - award campaigns - film festivals - educational curricula - social media advocacy Key Concepts media visibility industry bias Questions to Reflect On - How can audiences support under‑recognized talent? - What impact does representation have on society? A Different Perspective Industry may resist change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) ## Related quotes > [I don't just want to be a cute girl in a comedy or the actress who just does the same thing over and over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/i-don-t-just-want-to-be-a-cute-girl-in-a-comedy-or-the-actress-who/) [Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/) > [I liked 'The Help,' and I love Viola Davis. But I didn't think that film was a great film; I thought that was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-osborne/i-liked-the-help-and-i-love-viola-davis-but-i-didn-t-think-that-film/) [Robert Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-osborne/) > [I love Viola Davis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-clark/i-love-viola-davis/) [Marcia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-clark/) > [Viola Davis is just one of those actors who is never bad in anything. She could be in an awful film but you'd never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nish-kumar/viola-davis-is-just-one-of-those-actors-who-is-never-bad-in-anything/) [Nish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nish-kumar/) > [Viola Davis keeps saying this movie should be called The Big Responsibility instead of The Help, because there were so many groups of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/viola-davis-keeps-saying-this-movie-should-be-called-the-big/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [ I think, especially with this show \[How to Get Away with Murder\], we have Viola Davis and Pete Nowalk as the showrunner. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-souza/i-think-especially-with-this-show-how-to-get-away-with-murder-we-have/) [Karla Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-souza/) > [I can speak of actors that I love. I love Cate Blanchett, Viola Davis, her tenacity. I love Charlize Theron. She's so surprising and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/i-can-speak-of-actors-that-i-love-i-love-cate-blanchett-viola-davis/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [I love Viola Davis. I call her 'Queen.' I think she's phenomenal. She's so raw and so bold. When I first saw her was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-diop/i-love-viola-davis-i-call-her-queen-i-think-she-s-phenomenal-she-s-so/) [Anna Diop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-diop/) > [I just think that you have to believe in yourself and you have to work very hard. You can't ever think that you're the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/i-just-think-that-you-have-to-believe-in-yourself-and-you-have-to/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [My muses were all the incredible, iconic women of glamour in Hollywood that I have worked with over 15 years. Anjelica Huston, Michelle Pfeiffer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-posen/my-muses-were-all-the-incredible-iconic-women-of-glamour-in-hollywood/) [Zac Posen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-posen/) > [Viola Davis is incredible - she's kind of the biggest career-wise inspiration for me. Brilliant actor, so intelligent, so strong. The path that she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-harrier/viola-davis-is-incredible-she-s-kind-of-the-biggest-career-wise/) [Laura Harrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-harrier/) > [ Viola \[Davis\] is one of the great actors of her generation. She has one of these moments in the theater that I don't even… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/viola-davis-is-one-of-the-great-actors-of-her-generation-she-has-one/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I was working with the likes of Steve McQueen, Matthew McConaughey, Viola Davis, just running the gamut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tyree-henry/i-was-working-with-the-likes-of-steve-mcqueen-matthew-mcconaughey/) [Brian Tyree Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tyree-henry/) > [There are so many incredible women on TV right now. Viola Davis, Kerry Washington, Ellen Pompeo. These are really incredible female leads that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/there-are-so-many-incredible-women-on-tv-right-now-viola-davis-kerry/) [Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/) > [For me, I have this tough exterior and these Angela Bassett arms, and people think, 'Oh, my God, Rutina's tough.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/for-me-i-have-this-tough-exterior-and-these-angela-bassett-arms-and/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) ## More by Rutina Wesley > [I enjoy working with Deborah Ann, I think she's brilliant. It's been a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/i-enjoy-working-with-deborah-ann-i-think-she-s-brilliant-it-s-been-a/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [Fiona Shaw is one of my idols. She's phenomenatastic. I just make up a word for her - that's how much I love her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/fiona-shaw-is-one-of-my-idols-she-s-phenomenatastic-i-just-make-up-a/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [Dance is in my background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/dance-is-in-my-background/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [I worked as a singing, dancing busgirl in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/i-worked-as-a-singing-dancing-busgirl-in-high-school/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [I still see myself on TV and think, 'Oh my God, I'm on a television, and there are millions of people watching,' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/i-still-see-myself-on-tv-and-think-oh-my-god-i-m-on-a-television-and/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [I think that an actor shouldn't work from a place of fear, because it'll show in your work. You should work from a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/i-think-that-an-actor-shouldn-t-work-from-a-place-of-fear-because-it/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [My grandmother is very liberal, but... she still has her opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/my-grandmother-is-very-liberal-but-she-still-has-her-opinions/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [Id like to do a romantic comedy like Notting Hill, which is one of my favorite movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/id-like-to-do-a-romantic-comedy-like-notting-hill-which-is-one-of-my/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [You know, it cuts both ways... no one wants to lose a job, but everybody wants to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/you-know-it-cuts-both-ways-no-one-wants-to-lose-a-job-but-everybody/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [Staying in Vegas would've been too easy for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/staying-in-vegas-would-ve-been-too-easy-for-me/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [I always tell other young actors to go to school, or at least watch movies to learn as much as you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/i-always-tell-other-young-actors-to-go-to-school-or-at-least-watch/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [I was born to be on the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/i-was-born-to-be-on-the-stage/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [At Julliard, they don't teach you where to move your face for the camera, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/at-julliard-they-don-t-teach-you-where-to-move-your-face-for-the/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [I used to love Jem and the Holograms. I think if they were doing a concert, I would stand in line to see Jem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/i-used-to-love-jem-and-the-holograms-i-think-if-they-were-doing-a/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [New York is home to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/new-york-is-home-to-me/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) [Explore all 67 Rutina Wesley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) ## More Davis quotes > [I know there'll be comparisons, but I consider it an honor to be compared to Audrey Hepburn. She's a legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-oxenberg/i-know-there-ll-be-comparisons-but-i-consider-it-an-honor-to-be/) [Catherine Oxenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-oxenberg/) > [Miles Davis himself, I discovered him when I was 15, and he rocked my world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/miles-davis-himself-i-discovered-him-when-i-was-15-and-he-rocked-my/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [“Also, can we take a moment to appreciate the fact that there has never been and probably will never be another actress as thoroughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-heffington/also-can-we-take-a-moment-to-appreciate-the-fact-that-there-has-never/) [Rachel Heffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-heffington/) > [“Katharine Hepburn is tall—not as tall as she thinks she is, but tall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garson-kanin/katharine-hepburn-is-tall-not-as-tall-as-she-thinks-she-is-but-tall/) [Garson Kanin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garson-kanin/) > [“Stole this from a lizard for you - D”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/stole-this-from-a-lizard-for-you-d/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I felt Michael Jackson was inspired a little bit more from the elegance of a Fred Astaire. Michael loved Sammy Davis, Jr. and James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-ortega/i-felt-michael-jackson-was-inspired-a-little-bit-more-from-the/) [Kenny Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-ortega/) > [Phoebe Wolkind Ephron cracked wise like Dorothy Parker and looked like Katharine Hepburn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-ephron/phoebe-wolkind-ephron-cracked-wise-like-dorothy-parker-and-looked/) [Hallie Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallie-ephron/) > [She held herself very straight, like Audrey Hepburn, whom all women idolize and men never think about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/she-held-herself-very-straight-like-audrey-hepburn-whom-all-women/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [I never considered Miles Davis a perfectionist; I always considered him as an excellence-ist, where deviation is actually kind of cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/i-never-considered-miles-davis-a-perfectionist-i-always-considered/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) > [Who is Katharine Hepburn? It took me a long time to create that creature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/who-is-katharine-hepburn-it-took-me-a-long-time-to-create-that/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [If we are going to list guitar influences, the biggest one by far is Wes Montgomery. Also, Gary Burton was obviously huge for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/if-we-are-going-to-list-guitar-influences-the-biggest-one-by-far-is/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [I remember plastering the kitchen with Black Power pictures of Angela Davis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-remember-plastering-the-kitchen-with-black-power-pictures-of-angela/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [I was supposedly named after the Bette Davis character in 'The Letter' by my sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-was-supposedly-named-after-the-bette-davis-character-in-the-letter/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [“At the time, I thought if Stan Davis wanted to live on Green Valley Road, or in the Hundred-Acre Wood, that was his right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/at-the-time-i-thought-if-stan-davis-wanted-to-live-on-green-valley/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [Miles Davis is a major influence of mine in terms of the way that I am as a bandleader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefon-harris/miles-davis-is-a-major-influence-of-mine-in-terms-of-the-way-that-i/) [Stefon Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefon-harris/) Browse all 193 Davis quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Viola Davis should be a household name. 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