---
description: Viola Davis on the performances that changed her life, the difficult choice to play a maid and the difference between entertainment and experience.
title: Great Performance: Viola Davis
image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d02cd5c7c1f1ef3/69879c77524fc0864ddee179/08-142_v3.jpg?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9
---
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# Great Performance: Viola Davis
by
[TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/)
## TIME Staff
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Feb 9, 2012 8:45 AM CUT
Viola Davis2011 Performances: The Help and Extremely Loud and Incredibly CloseNominated: Best Actress for The Help
Viola Davis2011 Performances: The Help and Extremely Loud and Incredibly CloseNominated: Best Actress for The HelpSebastian Kim for TIME
by
[TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/)
## TIME Staff
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Feb 9, 2012 8:45 AM CUT
Viola Davis on the performances that changed her life, the difficult choice to play a maid and the difference between entertainment and experience.
2011 Performances: _The Help_ and _Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close_
Nominated: Best Actress for _The Help_
_THE PERFORMERS SPEAK:_
[Jessica Chastain](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/great-performance-jessica-chastain/ "undefined")
[George Clooney](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/great-performance-george-clooney/ "undefined")
[Adepero Oduye](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/great-performance-adepero-oduye/ "undefined")
[Viola Davis](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/great-performance-viola-davis/ "undefined")
[Uggie](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/great-performance-uggie/ "undefined")
[Michelle Williams](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/great-performance-michelle-williams/ "undefined")
[Brad Pitt](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/great-performance-brad-pitt/ "undefined")
[Rooney Mara](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/great-performance-rooney-mara/ "undefined")
[Christopher Plummer](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/great-performance-christopher-plummer/ "undefined")
[Bérénice Bejo](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/great-performance-berenice-bejo/ "undefined")
[Jean Dujardin](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/great-performance-jean-dujardin/ "undefined")
[Octavia Spencer](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/great-performance-octavia-spencer/ "undefined")
[Michael Fassbender](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/great-performance-michael-fassbender/ "undefined")
[Highlights](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/video-great-performances/ "undefined")
To view TIME’s Oscars portfolio photo gallery, [click here](http://lightbox.time.com/2012/02/09/oscars-2012-great-performances/ "undefined")
To see more of TIME’s Oscar coverage, [click here](http://entertainment.time.com/times-2012-oscar-coverage/ "undefined")
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