Believe Quote by Viola Davis
![“When Denzel [Washington] first called me on the phone after we'd just done a reading of the film ["Fences"]. He said, "Oh Viola it was so good, wasn't it?! I'm gonna tell Russell [Hornsby] to lose a little bit of weight and..." I was just sitting there thinking, why is he calling me? And I told…” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/519/viola-davis-1174_believe_when-denzel-washington-first-called-me-o_1751192.jpg)
“When Denzel [Washington] first called me on the phone after we'd just done a reading of the film ["Fences"]. He said, "Oh Viola it was so good, wasn't it?! I'm gonna tell Russell [Hornsby] to lose a little bit of weight and..." I was just sitting there thinking, why is he calling me? And I told him, "Denzel don't you tell me to lose weight!" He said, "I'm not telling you to lose weight! I can't believe you would say that."”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Podcast with Viola Davis, 2023
A humorous exchange reveals how miscommunication can lead to unexpected jokes about personal habits.
In simple terms: Misunderstandings can become funny anecdotes.
Key Takeaway
Clarify before reacting.
Themes
communication
humor
misunderstanding
Mood
lighthearted
playful
Type
anecdotal
conversational
When to use this quote
- workplace banter
- celebrity interviews
- personal boundaries
Key Concepts
interpersonal dynamics
self‑esteem
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you often assume intent in casual remarks?
- How can you respond to jokes about personal topics?
A Different Perspective
The joke may mask deeper insecurities about body image.
![“Obviously, ["Fences"] is a character-driven piece in every sense of the word, and Denzel [Washington] knows the actor. He gave us two weeks of rehearsal. He is a truth teller, and he is a truth seer. So he knows when something is not going in the right direction, and he will call you on it. But…” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7da/viola-davis-1174_actors_obviously-fences-is-a-character-driven-p_2744209.jpg)
![“When I came on to Jack Reacher, I had just taken my girlfriend on vacation and ate everything I could. I put on about 15 pounds, so when I met [the Jack Reacher team] I was clocking in at about 180. They looked at me and were like, "You're just gonna lose five pounds, we're gonna keep you skinny".” quote by Patrick Heusinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/466/patrick-heusinger-20623_five_when-i-came-on-to-jack-reacher-i-had-jus_2644642.jpg)
![“I think that's why August [Wilson] named her Rose [in "Fences"]; I really do. She's a rose in her sweetness and her kindness and in everything else, even her anger towards the end.” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bcf/viola-davis-1174_august_i-think-that-s-why-august-wilson-named-h_157231.jpg)
