--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're in crisis mode as black actresses…" description: "\"We're in crisis mode as black actresses. It's not only in the sheer number of roles that are offered and that are out there, but the quality of the rol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/viola-davis-1174_actresses_we-re-in-crisis-mode-as-black-actresses_1631346.jpg" --- # We're in crisis mode as black actresses. It's not only in… ![“We're in crisis mode as black actresses. It's not only in the sheer number of roles that are offered and that are out there, but the quality of the roles. The quality - and therein lies the problem. We're in deprivation mode because me, Alfre and Phylicia, we're in the same category. Whereas if…” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/viola-davis-1174_actresses_we-re-in-crisis-mode-as-black-actresses_1631346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/viola-davis-1174_actresses_we-re-in-crisis-mode-as-black-actresses_1631346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/viola-davis-1174_actresses_we-re-in-crisis-mode-as-black-actresses_1631346.jpg) > “We're in crisis mode as black actresses. It's not only in the sheer number of roles that are offered and that are out there, but the quality of the roles. The quality - and therein lies the problem. We're in deprivation mode because me, Alfre and Phylicia, we're in the same category. Whereas if you take a Caucasian actress, you have the one who are the teens, in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s - they're all different. There are roles for each of them. But you only have two or three categories for black actresses.” [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Black actresses face limited quantity and quality of roles, confined to a few stereotypes, unlike the diverse opportunities for white actresses. **In simple terms:** Black actresses are typecast and underrepresented. Key Takeaway Advocate for broader, richer roles for Black talent. Themes representation media diversity Mood concerned hopeful Type cultural industry When to use this quote - casting decisions - scriptwriting - career planning - advocacy groups Key Concepts typecasting industry bias Questions to Reflect On - What steps can creators take to diversify casting? - How can audiences support varied storytelling? A Different Perspective Industry change is slow and requires systemic effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black Actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-actresses-487465/) [Categories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/categories/) [Category Caucasian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/category-caucasian-487466/) [Caucasian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caucasian/) [Caucasian Actress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caucasian-actress-487468/) [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [Deprivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deprivation/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-roles/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Roles Offered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles-offered-487467/) [Sheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheer/) [Teens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teens/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [Young Black actresses were not necessarily given the space in Hollywood to fully see ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-underwood/young-black-actresses-were-not-necessarily-given-the-space-in/) [Lexi Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-underwood/) > [There is only room for a certain amount of black actresses in this industry. I don't want to fall into the zone of playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selita-ebanks/there-is-only-room-for-a-certain-amount-of-black-actresses-in-this/) [Selita Ebanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selita-ebanks/) > [Virginia Mayo had kind of a small role in The Best Years of Our Lives, but you got the whole character in one scene.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/virginia-mayo-had-kind-of-a-small-role-in-the-best-years-of-our-lives/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [I never saw a consistent through-line of employment for black actresses. I was like, 'How are they supporting themselves?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khandi-alexander/i-never-saw-a-consistent-through-line-of-employment-for-black/) [Khandi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khandi-alexander/) > [I always look at things half full and definitely see a change in how things are going as far as black actresses and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-elise/i-always-look-at-things-half-full-and-definitely-see-a-change-in-how/) [Kimberly Elise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-elise/) > [I know some black actresses who have to wait every 19 films for a role. I can be cast in practically every one as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/i-know-some-black-actresses-who-have-to-wait-every-19-films-for-a/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [I never played the right roles, or very rarely got the right roles offered, except on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/i-never-played-the-right-roles-or-very-rarely-got-the-right-roles/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [After 'Dor,' viewers showed the confidence that I could play serious roles too and so I was offered roles in films like 'Eight By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-takia/after-dor-viewers-showed-the-confidence-that-i-could-play-serious/) [Ayesha Takia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-takia/) > [Actors are at the mercy of roles that are offered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dae-kim/actors-are-at-the-mercy-of-roles-that-are-offered/) [Daniel Dae Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dae-kim/) > [There are a lot of TV roles that were offered to me after '24,' but I'd rather wait and come back with a season…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandira-bedi/there-are-a-lot-of-tv-roles-that-were-offered-to-me-after-24-but-i-d/) [Mandira Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandira-bedi/) > [I had been getting several Kannada film offers ever since 'Premam.' While a few of them did excited me as the roles I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupama-parameswaran/i-had-been-getting-several-kannada-film-offers-ever-since-premam/) [Anupama Parameswaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupama-parameswaran/) > [I'm in a fortunate position that sometimes you just get offered roles - they're not necessarily the roles you take, but to get offered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/i-m-in-a-fortunate-position-that-sometimes-you-just-get-offered-roles/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [Usually, the roles that you get offered that are the mom roles are very much the mom role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/usually-the-roles-that-you-get-offered-that-are-the-mom-roles-are/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I am not getting many offers in Mollywood, which is not the case in other film industries. And of the roles that are offered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babu-antony/i-am-not-getting-many-offers-in-mollywood-which-is-not-the-case-in/) [Babu Antony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babu-antony/) > [I'm doing films in the south since they give me ample scope for performance and the industry is also quite organised. The roles I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikitin-dheer/i-m-doing-films-in-the-south-since-they-give-me-ample-scope-for/) [Nikitin Dheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikitin-dheer/) ## More by Viola Davis > [I look back at pictures of myself and I remember thinking, "I was so fat when I was growing up. I was 165 pounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-look-back-at-pictures-of-myself-and-i-remember-thinking-i-was-so/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am not a glam woman - this definitely is a mask I put on for the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-not-a-glam-woman-this-definitely-is-a-mask-i-put-on-for-the/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I was bullied at school. The black girl in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in 1973. There'd be 8 or 10 boys; I would count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-was-bullied-at-school-the-black-girl-in-central-falls-rhode-island/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's why there's so much bad acting out there, because you could see actors watching themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-why-there-s-so-much-bad-acting-out-there-because-you-could-see/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I want my work to reflect my level of gifts and talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-want-my-work-to-reflect-my-level-of-gifts-and-talent/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I don’t want anyone putting any limits on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-want-anyone-putting-any-limits-on-me/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-that-s-why-august-wilson-named-her-rose-in-fences-i-really-do/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I suffered from low self-esteem for much of my life. And now to feel like maybe something that I'm projecting or saying could mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-suffered-from-low-self-esteem-for-much-of-my-life-and-now-to-feel/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I tell my daughter every morning, 'Now, what are the two most important parts of you?' And she says, 'My head and my heart.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-tell-my-daughter-every-morning-now-what-are-the-two-most-important/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I started a production company out of necessity, the need for great narratives for actors of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-started-a-production-company-out-of-necessity-the-need-for-great/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's always the biggest surprise when people meet me: how buoyant I am and how fun and light I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-always-the-biggest-surprise-when-people-meet-me-how-buoyant-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out-2/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ It was hard, that confrontation scene \[in "Fences"\], that was a hard one. I felt like it was relentless, I never felt like I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/it-was-hard-that-confrontation-scene-in-fences-that-was-a-hard-one-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am addicted to any facial product that's anti-aging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-addicted-to-any-facial-product-that-s-anti-aging/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) [Explore all 279 Viola Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## More Actresses quotes > [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [By the time I was seventeen, I was on my way to Hollywood and didn't look back. My family is supportive now, but like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/by-the-time-i-was-seventeen-i-was-on-my-way-to-hollywood-and-didn-t/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [Just have fun. Smile. And keep putting on lipstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/just-have-fun-smile-and-keep-putting-on-lipstick/) [Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/) > [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/) [Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/) > [I want to be fulfilled creatively as an actress and get to be in roles that are meaningful and impactful. I hope the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-want-to-be-fulfilled-creatively-as-an-actress-and-get-to-be-in/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [There's certain things I try to avoid, as an actress, just to keep my world from being as narrow as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/there-s-certain-things-i-try-to-avoid-as-an-actress-just-to-keep-my/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [All the baggage that comes with fame, being an actress. The down side to it is the intrusion into your life and this expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/all-the-baggage-that-comes-with-fame-being-an-actress-the-down-side/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [I am going to be a great actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-am-going-to-be-a-great-actress/) [Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/) > [As a black actress you've got to work doubly hard. But it doesn't ever get me to the point where I give up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/as-a-black-actress-you-ve-got-to-work-doubly-hard-but-it-doesn-t-ever/) [Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/) > [I've seen new actresses do one show and disappear or struggle for years to get their next break. I've been fortunate enough to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjeeda-sheikh/i-ve-seen-new-actresses-do-one-show-and-disappear-or-struggle-for/) [Sanjeeda Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjeeda-sheikh/) > [I knew I wanted to be an actress as soon as I popped out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-wallace/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-as-soon-as-i-popped-out/) [Dee Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-wallace/) > [Campaigning actress ASHLEY JUDD refuses to 'breed' with her racing star husband DARIO FRANCHITTI while there are starving children in the world. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/campaigning-actress-ashley-judd-refuses-to-breed-with-her-racing-star/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) [Browse all 1,881 Actresses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We're in crisis mode as black actresses. It's not only in the sheer number of roles that are offered and that are out there, but the quality of the roles. The quality - and therein lies the problem. We're in deprivation mode because me, Alfre and Phylicia, we're in the same category. Whereas if you take a Caucasian actress, you have the one who are the teens, in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s - they're all different. There are roles for each of them. 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