Viola Davis
The only Black actress to achieve the EGOT — and she earned every one. How to Get Away with Murder redefined what a Black woman lead could mean on network television.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Greatest Film Actors of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank Viola Davis significantly differently across lists.
The Cultural Record
Discography
No entries on record.
Awards & Recognition
No Grammy data on record.
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EGOT winner
Oscar: Fences
Emmy: HTGAWM
Grammy
Tony
Doubt
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
The First Lady
first Black actress EGOT
The Case For Viola Davis
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for Viola Davis.
Often Compared To
Whoopi Goldberg
#2Actors / Female — Chelsea, New York · 1983–present
One of the first women to achieve EGOT status and the only person to win an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony — a groundbreaking career that spans films, television, and theater.
Zendaya
#3Actors / Female — Oakland, California · 2010–present
From Disney Channel to Euphoria's Emmy sweep — Zendaya became the youngest two-time Emmy winner in history and one of the most watched actors of her generation.