Viola Davis Emmys Speech: Thanks Shonda Rhimes, Black Actresses After Emotional Win [WATCH]

Viola Davis won her first Emmy on Sunday night (Sept. 20) for her role in the Shonda Rhimes created drama series, How to Get Away With Murder, and made history as the first black woman to win in the category, Best Actress on a Drama Series in the award show's history. Davis Credits Shonda Rhimes and other show creators for providing women with the roles needed to win an Emmy.

"You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there," the HTGAWM star said during her acceptance speech. The New York Times wrote how Davis became the first African-American woman to win an Emmy for best lead actress on a drama series, for her role as defense lawyer, Annalise Keating. Rhimes is the mastermind and creator behind the successful Thursday night show, and others like Scandal and Grey's Anatomy. Davis was sure to bring light to her role in casting black women in leading roles for her Thursday night shows, and giving them the opportunity to win awards for these roles."

"...Here's to all the writers, the awesome people that are Ben Sherwood, Paul Lee, Peter Nowalk, Shonda Rhimes, people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black," Davis passionately said during her acceptance speech. She thanked women who are in prominent leading roles and who are breaking down barriers.

"And to the Taraji P. Hensons, the Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharies, the Meagan Goods, to Gabrielle Union: Thank you for taking us over that line."

"That line" referred to, is the line mentioned in the Harriet Tubman quote Davis recited in her opening acceptance: "In my mind, I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me, over that line. But I can't seem to get there no how. I can't seem to get over that line."

The Emmy 2015 acceptance speech touched everyone watching and as US Magazine reported, "reduced the audience to tears." Rhimes responded in kind, praising Davis' speech on Twitter.

Tags

Viola Davis, How To Get Away With Murder, Shonda Rhimes