Viola Davis Responds to Criticism for Performance in 'The First Lady'
The actress plays the former First Lady Michelle Obama in The First Lady, but the performance was not well received by the public and critics.
Actress Viola Davis received harsh criticism for her performance in Showtime's The First Lady. Playing Michelle Obama, the facial expressions and pursed lips in Viola's performance as First Lady have been ridiculed by critics and many social media platforms.
In a recent interview with BBC, Davis expressed compassion for the criticism she received and said it was "incredibly hurtful when people say negative things about your work." Despite this, the Oscar-winning actress acknowledges that she is part of the process, labeling the situation as an "occupational risk in showbiz."
"How do you move on from the hurt, from failure?" asked Davis. "But you have to. Not everything is going to be an awards-worthy performance."
Davis even responded directly to the critics, revealing her opinion on the experts. "The thing about critics is they serve absolutely no purpose. And I’m not saying that to be nasty either. They always feel like they're telling you something that you don't know. Somehow that you're living a life that you're surrounded by people who lie to you and 'I'm going to be the person that leans in and tells you the truth,'" she said during the BBC interview.
During the conversation, the 56-year-old stated that the reviews were "cruel," but that for the work to happen, choices have to be made, often met with strong feelings. "Ultimately I feel like it is my job as a leader to make bold choices. Win or fail it is my duty to do that."
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