Viola Davis: “I would never have offered me G20, so I created it”

The Oscar-winning actress explodes the codes in G20, action film shot in Cape Town, where she embodies nothing less than the President of the United States saving the free world. An unprecedented role for the star of almost 60 years, which has itself produced this tribute to the “Action Flicks” of the 1990s. Interview.

We know her powerful, overwhelming, sovereign in the drama. But Viola Davis like to go where you don’t expect it and push your limits. Rewarded with an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award, the actress is part of the ultra-fermed circle of “Egot” artists. And at almost 60 years old, the American icon is launching a new challenge with G20turning into a heroine of action in a muscular film directed by Patricia Riggenwhere she embodies the President of the United States in the midst of rescue of free world leaders, facing anything less than the terrible Antony Starr (Homelander in The Boys). A hyper physical role, for which the star gave his person. It is a Viola Davis Sweat, short breath and towel in the towel on the shoulder, which we met in Cape Town, in South Africa. In full shooting of the final sequence of G20 – Available on Prime Video from April 10 – Between two breaths aboard a unscrewing helicopter, the actress tells the first one what made her want to have fun Action Hero. Interview.

First: we didn’t expect you there! Why did you accept this role?
Viola Davis : I say the same thing as Meryl Streep In fact: there is an infinity of roles that I want to be able to do! This film means a lot for me. Not only because I embody a woman president. I embody a 59 -year -old black president, who knows how to fight! It is a role that I would not have given me naturally, so I created it, produced myself. I take charge of my own story, my life, so as not to stay in the background or continue to make these roles that Hollywood chooses for me.

Did you have to train a lot for this very physical role?
Everything is relative! I did recently The Woman Kingwhere I had to do five hours of sport per day. There, it’s physical, but not at that point. I couldn’t do that anymore. But hey, I still did a little shooting training, a little bit of ju-jitsu. But no more, there are cascade liners for these parts.

There is one as an alchemy between your heroine and the villain played by Antony Starr. Is it important for this kind of film?
I always have a little trouble with this term “alchemy”. It suggests something magic that would happen on a set. A suspended moment when time stops (laughs). It always bothers me a little. Because in fact, it’s just a job between two actors who give themselves and get along well. What is true is that Antony and I have the same dedication, the same involvement for our job, the same desire to get involved.

“When I was told of tales, child, I wanted to pierce the dragon! Not being the princess to save”

Would you say that G20 pays tribute to the action films of the 1990s?
Totally! It has a very assumed nostalgic side. We think of Air Force One. I adore Harrison Ford in addition. For me, he is the ultimate hero. The kind of guy you want to support. Whether in Indiana JonesIn The fugitiveIn Air Force One… He always transmits that to the public. Bruce Willis In Die Hard also this thing. Inevitably, I was inspired by these heroes.

And something you wanted to change compared to the films of the time?
Me ! (laughs) Me with this body, this face. It is really time to put the action heroes in the feminine. To show that they can also save the world. When I was told tales, child, I wanted to pierce the dragon! Not be the princess to save. Give me a sword, I’m going to fight the battle!

G20, produced Patricia Riggen, will be available on Prime Video from April 10, 2025.