Viola Davis and Ted Danson Celebrated in Film and TV at Golden Globes Event

Beverly Hills, California —

Viola Davis’ journey to becoming one of Hollywood’s most revered actresses was guided by a simple mantra: embrace each role, using each as a paycheck and a chance to explore new characters while honing her skills.

Davis delivered a moving 16-minute speech while accepting the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Gala: An Evening of Excellence Friday evening. She reflected on how her turbulent upbringing fueled her passion for escape room and how financial necessity often influenced her choice of roles.

“If I was waiting for a role that was written for me and well-crafted, I wouldn’t be here,” said Davis, who, along with Carol Burnett Award recipient Ted Danson, has been celebrated for his professional achievements in film and television during a black-tie gala dinner in Beverly Hills, California, just two nights before the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday.

Popular names in attendance included Carol Burnett, Jane Fonda, Anthony Anderson, Steve Guttenberg and singer-songwriter Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. This is the first time the Globes have held a separate event dedicated to the two awards.

Davis said she couldn’t afford to wait for the perfect role, especially as a “dark-skinned black woman with a wide nose and big lips.”

“So I took it for the money,” said Davis, who has won praise for a series of fascinating characters in films such as “Fences,” “The Woman King,” “The Help” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” while captivating television. audience through the legal thriller “How to Get Away with Murder”.

“I don’t believe poverty is really the answer to crafts,” she said. “I don’t think there’s any nobility in poverty.”

Meryl Streep presented the award to Davis, whom she called a pure artist who “delivers the truth every time.” The two actors worked together in the 2008 film “Doubt,” where Streep first became impressed with Davis, whom she called her “favorite actor in the world.”

The DeMille Award was given to Hollywood’s top talents. Past recipients include Tom Hanks, Jeff Bridges, Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman, Streep, Barbra Streisand and Sidney Poitier.

When Danson accepted her award, he praised Davis, calling her “an incredible actress.”

“It’s such a pleasure to be in the same room with you,” said Danson, a three-time Globe winner who has been on television since breaking out as Boston bartender Sam Malone. , in the NBC comedy “Cheers.” His other credits include “The Good Place”, “Mr. Mayor”, “Fargo”, “CSI” and “CSI: Cyber”, “Damages” and “Becker”.

Danson currently stars in Netflix’s “A Man on the Inside,” which earned him his first nomination since 2008 and 13th overall.

“Bia Iftikhar, who does hair on set, said it best: ‘Ted sets the tone,’” said his wife, actress Mary Steenburgen, who presented Danson with the Carol Burnett Award, inaugurated in 2019 Past recipients include Norman Lear, Ryan Murphy and Ellen DeGeneres. The first was Burnett herself.

Danson and Steenburgen appeared together in a few projects, including “Pontiac Moon”, “Gulliver’s Travels” and “It Must Be Love”.

“He is so loving and takes such joy in acting that all of us, who work hard away from our families for long hours, put ourselves to work on a set dictated by his kindness,” Steenburgen said. “As a wife, watching the respect and love…for Ted, it made me very proud.”

Danson exchanged “I love yous” with Burnett, showing mutual admiration. He thanked a number of writers, producers and actors as well as “Cheers” co-creators Glen and Les Charles, who surprised him by showing up at the event.

“I feel so grateful,” he said. “I’m truly the luckiest…on Earth.”

Davis joked, “Little Viola squeals,” referring to how her younger self would be thrilled with the actor’s journey from a poor childhood to Hollywood stardom.

“She’s standing behind me and she’s putting on my dress,” said Davis, who earned EGOT status after winning a Grammy last year for best audiobook, best narration and best story for the recording of his memoir “Finding Me”.

“She wears the same red rubber boots that she used to wear, rain or shine, because they feel ‘pure,'” she continued. “What she whispers is, ‘I told you I was a magician.'”