Viola Davis will be the recipient of the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 82nd Golden Globes in January 2025. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced the honor, praising Davis for her immense contributions to the entertainment industry.
“Viola Davis is a luminary whose profound talent has continuously shifted the lens through which we see and understand film,” stated HFPA president Helen Hoehne. “Presenting her with the 2025 Cecil B. DeMille Award is not only an honor but a reflection of our admiration for her relentless dedication to her craft and her monumental impact on the industry.”
The award, established in 1952 and named after legendary filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille, is a lifetime achievement honor for outstanding contributions to film. Past recipients include Sidney Poitier, Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington, and George Clooney. Davis, who is celebrated for her transformative performances and advocacy, joins this elite group as the 70th honoree.
Viola Davis Career Defined by Excellence
Davis, 59, has built a career that defies boundaries. She has received seven Golden Globe nominations for roles in both film and television, winning her first in 2017 for Fences. The role also earned her an Academy Award, making her the first Black woman to achieve five Oscar nominations.
Her achievements extend beyond the screen. Davis is one of only 27 artists to earn EGOT status, having won an Emmy for How to Get Away with Murder, two Tony Awards for Fences and King Hedley II, and a Grammy for her audiobook memoir Finding Me.
“Viola’s courage in portraying complex, powerful characters has broken barriers and paved new paths,” Hoehne noted.
Davis will receive the award at a gala dinner on January 3, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton, followed by recognition during the live broadcast on January 5. This year’s Golden Globes, hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, will air on CBS and Paramount+.