Oscars 2021: Viola Davis gets Best Actress nomination for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Viola Davis has officially become the most celebrated African-American actress in the history of the Academy Awards.

The 55-year-old performer was recently put up for the award for Best Actress for her role in the drama film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, where she portrayed the titular character.

The entertainment industry figure’s nomination is her fourth overall, as her efforts as an actress were previously celebrated at the annual awards ceremony three separate times.

Taking the lead: Viola Davis has officially become the most celebrated African-American actress in the history of the Academy Awards after being nominated for her role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; she is pictured in 2017

Davis’ first Oscar nomination was given for her role in the 2008 drama film Doubt, where she portrayed the mother of a boy who a Catholic priest allegedly abused.

The feature was based on the play Doubt: A Parable, which was first performed at an off-Broadway venue in 2004.

The film was helmed by director John Patrick Shanley and starred Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman, all of whom were put up for various Academy Awards.

Davis herself was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, although she lost to Penelope Cruz, who took home the Oscar for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Solid role: Davis was first given an Oscar nomination for her role in the 2008 drama film Doubt, where she played the mother of a boy who was allegedly abused by a Catholic priest; she is spotted in 2017

Three years later, the actress was put up for the award for Best Actress in the period drama piece, The Help.

The future producer portrayed Aibileen Clark, a maid living in Jackson, Mississippi, who is interviewed for a book about racism in America.

The Tate Taylor-directed film was based on the 2009 book of the same name, which Kathryn Stockett wrote.

Although she did not take home the Oscar that year, her castmate Octavia Spencer was nominated for and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the feature.

Second time around: The actress was given her second Oscar nomination for her work in the 2008 period drama The Help; she is seen acting alongside her castmate Octavia Spencer

Given to a friend: Although Davis did not win an Academy Award for her role in the period drama, Spencer took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress

In 2016, Davis was again recognized by the Academy for her portrayal of Rose Lee Maxson in the period drama Fences, which starred and was directed by Denzel Washington.

In the feature, which was based on the 1985 play of the same name, the actress played a wife of a garbage collector formerly known for his prowess on the baseball field.

For her work on the film, the entertainment industry figure was awarded the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, which to date is her only Academy Award.

Davis has been nominated for the award for Best Actress for her portrayal of the titular character in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which was released on Netflix.

Powerful piece: Davis received her first Oscar win for her portrayal of Rose Lee Maxson in the 2016 film Fences, which starred and was directed by Denzel Washington; the two are seen performing in the feature

Also featured in the film are Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman and Chadwick Boseman, who passed away during the post-production stage of the feature.

The George C. Wolfe-directed feature was nominated for five Academy Awards; Boseman was posthumously put up for the Best Actor distinction.

The Get On Up star also won the award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama at the recently held Golden Globes; Davis was also nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.

The Academy Awards are currently set to take place on April 25th.

In the running: The actress was recently nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and her late costar Chadwick Boseman was posthumously put up for the award for Best Actor; the two are seen performing in the 2020 film