Viola Davis Details 'Ma Rainey' Transformation, Inspired by Aretha Franklin: 'I Wanted That Body' "I tried to gain as much as I could but she was really big, close to 300 pounds," Davis says. "I got close to 200 pounds."

Did Viola Davis lose weight for woman King?

To prepare for the role of the iconic blues singer, Davis ended up gaining a little bit of weight. When she started training for The Woman King, her goal shifted to gaining more muscle and pushing herself to new levels of strength and health. In order to do that, Mclain had Davis eat a cleaner diet.

How long did it take Viola Davis to train for woman King?

Mclain worked directly with Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim and Adrienne Warren. Training for the film lasted about nine months and McLain had the stars working out with her for three hours every day. For more on Viola Davis, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

What is Viola Davis diet?

She also ate protein, such as lean beef, chicken, fish, and eggs, and had two protein- or carb-based snacks between meals each day. Healthy fats from avocados, olive oil, meat, eggs, and fish were also part of her training diet.

How big was Ma Rainey?

Viola Davis shared in her interview with Indie Wire, that Ma Rainey was “very big, well over 300 pounds” and while Davis gained weight for the role, she was still under 200 pounds and would need to wear a fat suit.

Viola Davis' Trainer Shares Fitness Transformation Secrets

How much weight did Viola gain for Ma?

Viola Davis Details 'Ma Rainey' Transformation, Inspired by Aretha Franklin: 'I Wanted That Body' "I tried to gain as much as I could but she was really big, close to 300 pounds," Davis says. "I got close to 200 pounds."

Who sang for Viola Davis in Ma Rainey?

Maxayn Lewis did most of Rainey's singing for Davis.

How did Viola lose weight?

Following a high-protein, mostly plant-based diet

As soon as Davis wrapped up Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, she immediately switched gears and began building muscle and losing weight for her next role.

Is Viola Davis diabetic?

Instead of backing down, Davis decided to become an advocate for those with prediabetes and narrated the diabetes-focused documentary A Touch of Sugar. We caught up with Davis about her relationship to diabetes, her diagnosis and what she's learned through her advocacy.

Does Viola Davis have diabetes?

“I was diagnosed a couple years ago,” says Davis. “It just woke me up, because it has affected my family my entire life: my two sisters with Type 2 diabetes, my aunt, my grandmother. As far as I was concerned, I exercise, I ate right — I certainly didn't feel like I was in their category.

How old was Viola Davis when she gave birth?

Viola Davis and her husband, Julius Tennon, adopted their daughter, Genesis, when the actress was 46.

What was Viola Davis first job?

A graduate of Juilliard, Davis began her career in Central Falls, Rhode Island, appearing in small stage productions, before expanding to screen with minor roles in film and television during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Is Viola Davis older than her husband?

Viola Davis married Julius Tennon, who is 12 years her senior, in 2003 and have been going strong ever since.

Did Viola Davis have a hysterectomy?

Viola Davis

The Oscar-winning actress told The New York Times in 2022 that she had a hysterectomy after struggling with uterine fibroids. (Fibroids are noncancerous growths in the uterus that can cause heavy bleeding and infertility.)

What actress walked away from woman king?

After being cast in “The Woman King,” Nyong'o made a short documentary on the Agojie tribe called “Warrior Women With Lupita Nyong'o.” Per THR, the Academy Award winner “grapples uncomfortably with the tribe's legacy of violence” in the short. Ultimately, Nyong'o exited “The Woman King” following the documentary.

How did Viola get in shape for Woman King?

"I was 56 when I trained to be this warrior: five hours a day, hour and a half of weight training, three and a half hours of martial arts (punching), 10.0 on the treadmill," Davis says, which is equivalent to a six-minute mile time.

When did Halle Berry become diabetic?

Halle Berry was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was in her early 20s. She suffered severe crises and was in a coma for several days. She recently stated that her strict adherence to a well-chosen diet had helped her to control her diabetes.

Is Salma Hayek diabetic?

Salma Hayek was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in 2007 while pregnant with her daughter. When diabetes is diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy, it's called gestational diabetes.

What type of diabetic is Tom Hanks?

The actor, now 65, first opened up about his type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2013. About 90 percent of people living with diabetes have developed type 2 diabetes. It is also the most common type of diabetes in people over the age of 60.

Does Viola have biological children?

Viola has a lovely daughter named Genesis Tennon. Some fans have wondered if Genesis is Viola's biological child, but she isn't. Viola Davis and her husband, Julius Tennon, adopted Genesis in October 2011.

Does Viola have a twin brother?

Sebastian is Viola's twin brother. He was rescued from the shipwreck by Antonio and he thinks his sister drowned at sea. Antonio is a sea captain. He rescued Sebastian from the shipwreck and follows him when they arrive in Illyria.

Why does Viola have to disguise herself?

Viola is alone when she comes to Illyria, which would have been dangerous for a woman. She bravely disguises herself as a man to find work and protect herself. Viola (Cesario) is loyal to Orsino, and tries to encourage a relationship between him and Olivia even though she loves Orsino herself.

Who has Viola Davis been married to?

Happy birthday, Viola! Actress Viola Davis penned a sweet, but powerful note on Wednesday to celebrate her husband of two decades, Julius Tennon. The EGOT winner took to Instagram to share a series of photos of the two throughout the years. “We've seen the loss of family members and held each other up.

Did Viola Davis do her own singing?

While it is Davis' voice who belts out “These Dogs of Mine,” Lewis performs the rest of the numbers. In an interview with Variety, Lewis explains how she came to sing in the Oscar-nominated film and got to lip-sync for Viola Davis.