It was a scene that ran just shy of eight minutes when Viola Davis, a relative unknown, went head-to-head with Meryl Streep in the 2008 film “Doubt.” The South Carolina-born, Juilliard graduate emerged as a powerful actor to watch, heralded by the powers-that-be in Hollywood, and even Streep herself.

Unsurprisingly, nominations ensued for Davis, including a best supporting actress at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Academy Awards. She was well on her way to becoming a powerhouse actor-producer who could perform in both character and leading roles.

Prior to her celebrated role in “Doubt,” in which she portrays the mother of a boy who may or may not have been abused by a priest, Davis was enjoying an eclectic career appearing in such movies as “Solaris,” “Traffic,” “Syriana,” “Kate & Leopold,” “Antwone Fisher” and “Far From Heaven.” On the small screen, she had a recurring role in “Law & Order:  Special Victims Unit” and “Law & Order:  Criminal Intent,” and also starred opposite Tom Selleck in the films “Jesse Stone:  Stone Cold,” “Jesse Stone:  Night Passage” and “Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise.”

Davis’ career began on stage in Rhode Island in small productions before making her Broadway debut in “Seven Guitars” in 1996, for which she earned a Tony nomination. Five years later, she took home her first Tony award for her role in “King Hedley II” and followed with yet another win in 2010 playing Rose Maxson in “Fences,” opposite Denzel Washington, based on August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

They revived their performances in the 2016 film adaptation, after which Davis was honored with supporting actress trophies at the Golden Globes and the Oscars. Washington earned a best actor nomination at both award ceremonies.

Her career trajectory since “Doubt” has been on a constant upward swing. She collected a further five Golden Globe nominations: for actress in a motion picture – drama for “The Help” (2011); actress in a TV series – drama for “How to Get Away with Murder” (2014, and 2015); and actress in a motion picture – drama for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (2020), and again for “The Woman King” (2022).

In the upcoming Golden Globe Awards, she will be honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for artists who have delivered “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.” The award was established in 1952, and recipients include such icons as Denzel Washington, Barbra Streisand, Oprah Winfrey, Sidney Poitier and Robert Redford.

Davis is a passionate activist for human rights and women of color. In 2011, she and her husband, actor Julius Tennon, founded JuVee Productions. Their mission is to provide a platform for a diverse range of emerging and established talent, reflecting their commitment to inclusivity and equality in the entertainment industry.

Davis joins the elite club to have achieved EGOT status, having won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony trophies. In 2022, her memoir “Finding Me” added best-selling author on the New York Times’ to her string of accolades.

Davis’ astounding litany of work is an example of how a few minutes of screen time can be the first step in cementing a lifelong career.