Viola Davis | Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Hello everyone. Welcome to another. episode of Good Hang. We have the best. of the best. We have the goat. We have. Viola Davis joining us. And man, we talk about so many fun. things. We talk about growing up in. Rhode Island and Boston and. how we get rid of those accents. We talk. about our mutual best friend, Meryl. Streep. We talk about the time she. jumped out of a plane and all the. swearing she did on the way down. And we. talk about the new book that she.

co-wrote with James Patterson called. Judge Stone, out now. So, we're going to. get into a lot of great stuff and we're. thrilled to have her here. And as we. always do, we talk to someone at the. beginning of the show that we that knows. our guest or is a fan of our guest and. has a question for us and we talk well. behind their back and boy. we've got just a gem of a person, Julius. Tennon, Viola Davis's husband, partner, producing partner, incredible. loving, supportive.

wonderful man who makes us all believe. in love. He's the only spouse that we've. allowed to be on the show um. so far and the expectation is high. So, I cannot wait to talk to Julius. Julius, thank you for joining us. Hi. >> [music]. >> This episode of Good Hang is presented. by Subaru. Some cars go the extra mile. Long-range Subaru hybrids take that to a. whole new level. With up to 597 miles.

per tank in the Crosstrek Hybrid, a car. that I've given my family, and up to 581. miles per tank in the Forester Hybrid, another car that I also enjoy. Subaru, love goes the extra mile. Visit. subaru.com/hybrid. to learn more. Range based on. EPA-estimated combined fuel economy and. a full tank of fuel. Actual mileage and. range may vary. Yeah, what do you say? >> [music].

>> Hello Julius, can you hear me? I can. Hey, how you doing? >> Hi, it's such a pleasure to meet you. Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, too. And I just want to say quickly that we. love you. And um you're always amazing. and funny as hell and. cool and all that stuff. So, so nice to. meet you. Yes, thank you so much. >> [laughter]. >> You're welcome. Um you got me blushing. already. Thank you for saying that. I.

want you to know that we I mean. [laughter] it. Well, I I can tell that about you. I. think you you say what you mean. You and. Viola. Yes. Yes, we do. Thank you for that. [laughter]. Um we you know, so we do this thing at. the beginning of whenever we interview. someone, we talk to someone that knows. them really well, and we get a question. um for them. And we just talk well. behind their back. And I want you to. know you are the first spouse. that we have spoken to among all of our.

guests. >> Well, I feel I feel honored. And I think it's because you two seem to. actually really like each other. >> [laughter]. >> We kind of do. We kind of do. >> [gasps]. >> Now, pleasure to meet you, Julius. You. know, you're an actor, writer, producer. You're the president of JuVee. Productions, which is a company that you. and Viola and others run. And you've got. amazing projects that you've done and. are and are getting ready to do. But can I start by just asking you. um.

to take us back to the day that you and. Viola met on set? Oh, wow. That was. incredible. It was 1999. It was City of. Angels. I was playing an. anesthesiologist. She was Nurse Lynette Peeler. And um. I was passing blood to her. And I was uh dating a girl at the time. that I wasn't so happy with. and then so. I said, "Wow, this lady looks like she. could be somebody nice I could maybe. give my card to." So, at the end of the.

day, I gave her my card, and I had my. shirt on. >> [laughter]. >> The story is Viola said if my shirt had. been off, she would have never called. me, but I had my shirt on, >> [laughter]. >> and I gave her my card, and I said, "Hey, if you ever want to hang out, whatever, whatever, give me a call.". Well, she did. A month later, she called. me. I had literally forgot about it, but I. hadn't forgot about her. So, when I. heard her voice, I went, "Hey!". What And then she invited me to uh a. cast thing for the main cast, cuz I was. recurring on the show. And um we went out on our first date.

almost 27 years ago, and here we are. 23. years married coming up this summer, 27. years this October. So, it's been. beautiful, but that's how That's how it. started. >> Aw, I love that story, and I love. that you guys met just your typical way, just passing blood to each other. Yeah, just. >> [laughter]. >> passing the regular stuff, just passing. blood, you know. And she kind of fit in. those, you know, she fit in those things. pretty good, and I was like, "Hmm, okay.

>> [laughter]. >> Let me give this girl my card.". >> [screaming and laughter]. >> I mean, what's so sweet about hearing. the two of you talk about each other is. you both met each other. um when you were coming up. Yeah. Absolutely. What's it What's it like to. be. you know, two young actors. um working hard to make ends meet and. you know, being in love? Listen, it's. tough. Listen, when I met Viola, she was.

scared to tell me she had bad credit. I. said, "Hey, baby, it's okay. I got good. credit.". >> [laughter]. >> You know, but it's it was it's one of. those tough things, but you know, Amy, it's about supporting one another. You. support one, the other one supports the. other equally, and uh and that's what we. did. We just went about kind of loving. on each other and being happy for one. another with whatever dropped, whatever. happened. >> [clears throat]. >> And so, uh just so happened that Viola's. career just really started to take off,

and it's been a beautiful thing. And uh. I'm glad to be a part of it. People say, "How do you handle it? How do you do. what you do?" Whatever. I said, cuz I. know who I am. See, for a man, it starts. with you knowing who you are. I don't. care how powerful your woman is or what. she's doing. If your woman knows that. you can handle yourself and that you. know who you are, then she's going to. go, "Wow, hey, my guy's good." And so, that's the way Viola and I have rolled. So, it's about me supporting her and and. vice versa. So, it's just been easy for. us.

>> Uh Julius! >> [laughter]. >> EVERYONE LISTENING right now is JUST. GOING, "AH!". >> [screaming]. [laughter]. >> JULIUS! I'M JUST GOING TO PLAY THAT ON a loop. Well, thank you, and it is the truth. But you're right. But You got to know. who you are. You got to know who you. are. Especially in our business, cuz it. can be so competitive. Even though we're. not competing against each other, I'm a. man, you're a woman, but we're not competing. against each other, but we're in the. same business. And sometimes that.

intersection, when one is elevating and. the other is kind of like not, it can. create a lot of different kind of uh. weird kind of energy and things in a. relationship. And so, listen, what this. is what we do, it's not who we are. This acting thing and all, that's what. we do, it's not who we are. So, we. figured that out early on, and so it's. just been always easy, cuz it's always. been in support of one another. Well, it's a beautiful thing, because you're. you're reminding me of just the.

the word self in the phrase self-esteem. It really is your own work to do, always. Amy, I can say that I met Viola. almost 27 years ago. She's the same. woman I met when I met her all those. years ago. Hadn't changed a bit with. everything that's happened to her, she's. still the same Viola and I think that's. what makes people just so drawn to Viola. cuz she's so real and so authentic. >> Can we talk about The Woman King because. congratulations on that. >> Thank you so much. What a.

Yeah. What was that like making that. together? It was a great journey. It was. great to be able to do a movie like that. cuz a movie like that hadn't been done. in Hollywood ever. >> Yes. That's right. >> And so to be able to do a movie like. that and have it come out so beautiful, so um. accepted by the audiences on a global. scale, it meant a whole whole lot to to. Viola and myself. And so we just went. all in despite the challenges, despite. not necessarily having enough money to.

make it, but still saying, "You know. what? Be damned. We're just going to go. and make it anyway because we know it's. going to have a cultural impact and it's. going to be long-lasting. And as it. turned out, it you know, AFI chose it. that year to be one of the great films. that was made that year. And so we're. we're just so proud to have done that. together. And um and battling it out, you know, just battling it out, fighting. believing in what you want, you know? As. hard as it is, Amy, you just have to. keep putting one foot in front of the. other. If you want something, you have.

to go for it. And that's what Viola and. I continually with our team cuz I'm a. big team guy. >> Well, I was going to say you're a. football ex-football player. I am an. ex-football player. >> Do you ever coach? I never coached. >> Because you have a coach vibe. But I was. you know, I I wanted to act. I was kind. of like I looked at you know, my idols. back in the day when I was thinking. about acting and playing football, you. know, it was it was Jim Brown, Bernie. Casey, uh Fred Williamson, some of the. old school guys from way back in the day. when I was saying, "Shit, they can do. it, I can do it." So you know,

>> [laughter]. >> and so that was kind of a thing and uh. but I always loved the arts. I always. loved but started with poetry and then, you know, obviously. Well, you have you. have Julius you have you have a real. coach vibe and you do something that I. absolutely love which is. every other sentence you say my name. >> [laughter]. >> And boy, does it work. Every time he's saying my name, I'm. like, yes. Hey, Amy. >> to me. [laughter]. I love it so much. Um. Okay, I'm sure you've uh you've got a.

sense now of what Viola likes to be. asked and what she like is asked. constantly about and doesn't want to. answer anymore. Like, you know, there's. always these questions that are like, you know, people think they're asking. for the first time or topics that is. there anything you would if you don't. mind helping me out to make sure I don't. get into an area or a question that. she's like, uh this again? Well, you. know, I think it it would be fun to ask. her some questions about some of the. funny moments that we had together. This.

one is ask her the origin of Zuni. Okay. Why don't you ask her or say, Viola, what's this whole thing about Zuni? I. don't know what is that thing. Well, let. me just tell you a little bit. It's it's. a it's a animated uh Muppet cartoon that. I grew up with. And it was the show was. called Fireball XL5. What? And Zuni was. one of the endearing characters and they. were going on space exploration. It was. about that. And I was a kid, I loved. that show. And so, that's a pet name I. gave Viola. I call her Zuni. And and the.

reason I do because I love Zuni so much. and I love Viola. So, that is so. endearing to me. So, when I'm calling. her Zuni, it's not cuz of what Zuni. looks like, it's because I love the hell. out of Zuni. Okay, but I'm going to have. to Google Zuni and see what Zuni Yeah, you got to Google Google him real quick. and then you'll see Fireball XL5 and. you'll see Zuni, but I love Zuni. So, [laughter] ask her about Zuni. >> Okay. Other thing is ask her about our first. theatrical experience, Shadow of a.

Gunman. Ooh. >> Just say, "Are and Julius went to a. place in the shadow of a gunman thing? What is What is that, Viola? Give Give. us Give us a She'll tell you. It's kind. of a funny story." You know, the the the. regular questions about the business and. all that. We can always talk about. projects and stuff like that. And she's. great to talk about that stuff. But she. often times don't like to talk about the. mundane stuff that you have to answer a. thousand times. But it always surprises. me. She's always able to answer this. stuff as if it was new. I'm like going, "How the hell do you do that, Viola?". You know, like,

"Yeah, I'm like, why are you doing. that?" I said, "Okay, well, she was. going to People think I can pull a. rabbit out of my ass." And I'm going, "Well, you kind of can.". Well, Julius, I know. um. you guys. you're the best couple in the world. And you're We're not going to be able to. interview any other spouse after this. because you've set such a high bar. Well, >> [laughter]. >> and not like it's a competition, but. you've won a gold medal in.

relationships. >> [laughter]. >> Thank you so much. It's been a pleasure. being with you this morning. Same. Love. talking to you. Thank you so much for. your time and and such a pleasure. Thanks again. You too. Take care. Bye. All right, listen up. Ralphs, King. Soopers, Harris Teeter, Food 4 Less, Kroger, and more are now on Uber Eats. And you get 40% off your order of $30 or. more. Maybe you're trying a new recipe. and need some last-minute ingredients. Or maybe the kids made a mess and you're. lower on cleaning supplies than you.

thought. Whatever you need, you can get. it delivered in as little as 25 minutes. So, order now on Uber Eats and get 40%. off your order of $30 or more with code. Kroger 2026. Plus, Uber One members get. $0 delivery fees. Orders of $30 or more, save up to $25. Ends May 31st, 2026. See. app for details. This episode is brought to you by eBay. You know what's great about eBay? I can.

always find my one true love there. Fake. food. Carved sushi, crocheted cupcakes, hyperrealistic artichokes. Some pieces I. just got to have. I've mentioned this. totally normal obsession many times. before because it's my thing. On eBay. you can always find whatever your thing. is. From rare collectibles and vintage. cars to designer fashion, it's all. there. Millions of finds each with a. story. eBay, things people love. Viola Davis is here.

>> [gasps]. >> I'm so so happy that you're here. I'm. happy to be here. I I've been like not. working for the longest time. So I feel. like it's I feel like I'm coming out of. hibernation and I'm like, "Holy. this is what I do." Well, I got to tell. you we got to start by saying you were. the first EGOT we've had. And probably. the last. >> [laughter]. >> I mean, that was Not a lot of us. >> No, there's like 18, 19. I have to tell you that it wasn't until.

I won the Oscar for Fences and someone. said, "You're one step away from an. EGOT." I never thought of it before. I. didn't think about it. Wasn't like that. sort of thing for me. Is that so cool? I mean, it's just it. is. And I again, not something anyone's. like thinking about when they're. starting out, but just. It's cool. >> It's cool. >> It is. It's cool. >> It's cool. >> going to be on my gravestone, Amy, but. it's cool. >> It is so cool. Well, >> [laughter]. >> my on my gravestone it's going to be.

that I interviewed you, the EGOT winner. And also before we get started, I just. got to say the Timmy Timothy Timothée. Chalamet shout-out. was so cool. Oh, and my daughter was. That was it for her. Mhm. [laughter]. She's 15. That was it. Timothy Chalamet, mama. I mean, good company to be in. And of. course, we all agreed with him. But you. spoke about it and I love what you said. about how you loved his speech. What did. you love about it? Cuz I did too. What. like the essence of what he was saying.

in that speech? Well, because what I. loved about the speech is he has a. spirit of excellence. >> Mhm. You know, some people. I always negotiate, Amy, so if you feel. like I take a long pause, I'm just. negotiating what I'm about to say so I. don't step on toes and I don't work ever. again in the industry. But um some. people don't have the spirit of. excellence. They have the spirit of um. mistaken their presence for the event. >> Yeah. >> For mediocrity, for just um beauty, but.

it's great that he had the spirit of. excellence without putting me in it. Yeah. >> At all. I'm not saying that. But I love. that with young actors. >> And and and I I also I love when people. are um. uh I guess openly ambitious Yeah. >> and in real time saying I really want to. try to get the best out of myself and. others like when they say it. Absolu-. And ambition too is different than ego.

>> Yeah, that's right. >> And I saw the ambition in him and he. happens to be incredibly talented. >> Yes. So what do you like? I like young. people Listen, just like I love bad. kids, I love a bad kid, like a. 2-year-old bad kid. Someone [laughter]. who comes, you know, I had a little bad. kid at my wedding, my first wedding. I. had three ceremonies, Amy. But my first. wedding, I had a little bad kid who. stuck his whole finger in my cake. I. thought it was the best thing in the. world. So I love a bad kid. But I also.

love young people having attitude. I do. >> Ooh, why? Listen, the world is going to. get at you. It's going to kick your ass, just leave you in the dumpster. So it's. really great when you go out in the. world and you have the chutzpah. >> Yes. >> You have that self-possession, right? That's what I want with my kid. I was so. so much of a good girl. Mhm. You know, with shitty boyfriends who made me feel. like and I was just still like. worshipping at their feet. So, yeah, I. like yeah, I like I like attitude. Do.

you think that's an East Coast thing cuz. we're both East Coast? I I grew up in. Boston, you Rhode Island. Oh, you. weren't born there, but you spent most. of your time in Rhode Island. >> Okay, Boston. Yeah. And what's the. difference between Boston and Rhode. Island? Nothing. You still say Florida. You know, I mean, you park the car in. your father and your father and your. mother by all Oh my god. I eat grinders. and cabinets. Okay, that's different. from the bubbler. Oh, yeah, bubbler. Mhm. Yes. >> [laughter]. >> The first time I said bubbler was at You. Cal Poly Pomona.

and I said, "You know what a bubbler. is?" And guy literally he he stood there. for the longest time. He was like, "What the ARE [laughter] YOU. TALKING ABOUT?" TOTALLY. And he finally. said the water fountain. I was like, "Water fountain with the statues?". Well, did you say pocketbook instead of. purse? Oh, no, pocketbook all the way. >> Pocketbook and um. >> wicked good. Wicked good, man. Wicked. good. I mean, my parents would they. would go into a bar, they'd be like, "Can we have a beer?" And they'd be.

like, "Oh, you're from Boston." And. they'd be like, "How do you [laughter]. know?". Well, just one word. There's a part of. growing up on the East Coast that gives. you a directness that I I wouldn't want. to trade. I like that about people. Yes. But the other side of that coin can be. like a roughness, like a just a. toughness and roughness. >> and you know, Amy, I'm black. So, um. comes with a different. >> Yeah. set of rules of roughness. Yeah. You know, and so, you know, I came from.

plain spoken people. Yeah. You know, I. always say it's like it's like. [laughter]. I'm negotiating. >> [laughter]. >> Um Oh my god, I I the sound of your. nego- We should put some music over it. when you're thinking [clears throat] of. what to say. >> Tupac. You can put Tupac music on. >> [laughter]. >> But, I just remember vis- visiting. someone's at one point and I took a bus. Mhm. And I got off the bus and I told my. friend, "Well, make sure some- the. person who's coming to pick me up, they. know who I am, okay?".

I waited there, Amy. 30 minutes. Maybe longer. >> Mhm. Waiting for the person to pick me up. >> [snorts]. >> Finally, I find them. I go to my friend. and I said, "Why couldn't they find me?". And he said, "Well, I described you." I. said, "Well, how did you describe me?". "Oh, I just said you were cute. and you had long hair." Amy, I'm black. with long braids. I said, "Did you tell. him I was black?" I was the only black. girl on the bus. He was like, "Oh, I. didn't feel like I could say that.".

Mhm. You know, but the thing with what. you're talking about plainspoken, thing. about black people, they call it as it. is. >> That's right. You know, that black girl. who come out and and she got the tattoo. on her her left titty and she got one. tooth coming out of her mouth, it's that. girl. Yeah. So, it's it's that sort of. plainspokenness I grew up with with my. mom and dad. They were that plainspoken. >> Well, you talk I mean, you've spoken. beautifully about your childhood growing. up and the difficulties in it and the. way that you've like. been processing it in real time as an.

adult now and but I think and I I don't. know if this is the same for you as I. get older, I start trying to look at my my origin, the place of origin, and figure out what. gifts it gave me and what pain it gave. me at the same time, right? And there is. the something about growing up in the. East Coast, I don't know, that sticks. with you. And I know this sounds silly, but like. the accent that we just did, like the. accent sticks around. I always say like. when I'm angry or really excited, my.

accent comes out sometimes. Yeah. Does. your. My. >> comes out, too, even when I'm acting. Yeah? >> Especially in in emotional scene and it. just surprises me. It'll jump out at me. And you know, of course I went to a. school in New York that kills your. accent. You you'll get thrown out if you. still have an accent at Juilliard by. your fourth year. And by my second year, they warned me and said you cannot come. back to the school until you. fix up whatever the hell this is going.

on. And so I remember like every single day. for two hours practicing how to say. father instead of father. Father. And. and you know, at Juilliard when you. speak too, it when you're walking. around, they put a pencil in your mouth. During rehearsal, they put a pencil in. your mouth to see where your tongue is. when you're articulating your sentences. So I was traumatized into just.

catapulting that. Not realizing that's a beautiful thing. >> Yeah, have you ever gotten to play. anyone with a. you know, with an a Rhode Island accent. or Boston accent and like let it rip? No, Amy. >> [laughter]. >> Nobody's writing a black girl from Rhode. Island role. >> Well, maybe we do a road trip. That's. all I'm saying. >> write it. >> Maybe you need to write I mean I mean. >> [laughter]. >> You're What you're talking about going. to Juilliard and. and you've talked a lot about it and. your training there and like what you. took from it and.

before you got there, who told you or. when did you have that feeling of I want. to I want to be an actor. It's. The reason why I ask, I was I'm I'm the. daughter of of school teachers. No one I. knew was an actor. I didn't know any. actors. I didn't like of course I knew. famous people in movies and TV, but I. didn't know that would be a job of mine. But I was in school plays and people. would come up and say, "You were good.". Yeah, exactly. >> You know, like you hung you hung in. there. And it surprises you, right? Yeah.

>> But but for me, it's um it's gradual. So. it's hard to pinpoint one person in one. moment. But I swear to you, the more I. think about it, I have to pinpoint the. moment that we won the skit contest at. Jenks Park when I was 8 years old. Amy, that was it. >> Yeah. Cuz I I was so shy. Yeah. You know, and. brutally shy. >> Yeah. >> Like to the point where I couldn't speak. in public. And so we did the skit. You.

know, and I played the "Ooh Wee" kid. from "That's My Mama", that's Ted Lange. I don't know if you remember that show. I don't want to age you or whatever. >> It's called "That's My Mama". >> Okay. And he was the "Ooh Wee" kid. He. was a gossipy. guy. He would come in and go. >> [gasps and laughter]. >> "I got it. I got it. I'm going to report. it." So I was the "Ooh Wee" kid. My. sister Delores was. What's his name from "Let's Make a. Deal"? Montel. >> Monty Hall. >> Monty Hall. She was Monty Hall. My. sister Anita was was Esther, Aunt Esther.

[laughter] from "Sanford and Son". >> "Sanford and Son". And my sister. Diane was Fred Sanford. Oh my god. I think I put I have it in my book, but. we created a. a game show sort of reality show where. we had to come on and tell a story of. how you saved a life. And whoever had. the best story won a million dollars. What were you What are you in the in the. birth order of the sisters? Um next to. the youngest. I have one younger sister. who was my baby. Mhm. Yeah. So wow, so.

three so four girls in the same family. rehearsing like doing skits, doing. comedy. >> Yeah, making treating. >> Having rewrites. We had a little. wardrobe budget $2.50. We'd go to. Salvation Army and you know, or raid my. mom's closet. The whole thing was we did. the skit contest cuz we were like these. people in this town. her.

her. I mean people who like were. bullies. Yeah. You know, and we were. like we're going to stick it to them. We're going to win. The confidence. >> Yeah. >> Once again, the self-possession and just. being and everyone in Central Falls was. there. People were sitting on rocks. You. know, the newspaper was there, Amy. And. we won. Damn. That must have been so. exciting. Viola, I mean, it's going to. be hard for me to not. >> [sighs]. >> talk about how great you are this whole. time. To me that story feels like when.

an athlete realizes like. oh, I'm naturally good at hitting a. baseball or something, you know. Mhm. You are. so good at what you do. Well, I. appreciate that. >> And the naturalness of what you do. combined with your. determination and skill is just. >> [gasps]. >> so. I mean, I wish I could have a time. machine and go back to that day and see. you performing because I can only. imagine that people.

pointed at you and said, "Wow.". Well, I don't know if anyone pointed at. me and said, "Wow." But I pointed at. myself and I said, >> "Wow." And. how do you go from there to Juilliard? How do you. You know what? We'll never know. You. never know. But what do you What do you. audition with to get into Juilliard? I. auditioned with. Celie from Color Purple. >> Oh, god. That was my dramatic and then I. auditioned with a sort of comedy piece.

from um God. damn it, I'm forgetting. Oh boy. But um. it was uh. sort of French comedy and then I had a. monologue. >> Uh-huh. Yeah. I mean, when you were doing Shakespeare, what Do you have a way to memorize. Shakespeare or like How do you like to. memorize? It's a process. So you have to figure. out who you are, what you live for, all.

that other stuff that nobody ever wants. to hear about by the way. It's It's so. boring. It It really is. It's boring. >> you mean it is I know you mean, but what. I what is cool about it is. I think that the skill involves with the. you know, the the hard work which is the. theme I would say of. looking at your body of work and your. life is that you just have never shied. away from hard work. You've never run. away from it. >> you. And memorizing is really hard. Memorizing is [laughter].

but. you know what? Memorizing is the least. difficult part of acting. Oof, I I think. I These days I'm These [laughter] days. I'm I'm funny. It's so hard. >> IT'S LIKE. YOU KNOW, WHEN you have another actor. looking in your face and they're waiting. for the line. Now I'm big with this is. and then you know that someone has. dropped I I did this with Meryl Streep. You know, in doubt. She had a line, I. had a line or whatever and then nothing. Mhm. I'm looking in her face, nothing.

She's saying nothing, I'm saying. nothing. It's obviously someone dropped. the line and then I realized. she's the one who dropped the line. >> Oh my god, thank god. >> [laughter]. >> Meryl figured Streep dropped the line. And so then we did it three more times. Three more times that scene. She kept. dropping the line. And in my brain I was. like. say the line. Of course. But I can't tell Meryl Streep. you forgot the line, bro. You keep. forgetting the line. And finally we did.

it and she was like, why is does. something feel off? And I said because. you you keep FORGETTING THE LINE. [laughter]. YOU FORGOT THE LINE, MERYL. >> [laughter]. >> AND SHE'S LIKE, I'm not perfect. >> she No, she just said, well why didn't. YOU SAY SOMETHING? >> [laughter]. >> AND YOU DID say something and. but but the the the the. Shakespeare itself feels just like you. really got to I guess what your point. you got to just keep living in it living.

in it. >> Well, the the here's the hardest thing. about Shakespeare, too. >> Please. What the hell are you saying? >> are you saying? And [laughter] and. what are you saying? And and also the. iambic pentameter. And also. boy actors are going to kill me. >> [laughter]. >> But I went to Juilliard. And You don't. want it to be boring. Exac. Listen, they're not going to kill you. for that. Here's the thing about. Shakespeare. All it is is people acting it and. listening to it going like this.

and I'm like you don't know what you're. talking about and we don't know what. you're saying. >> Well, well, well, well, here's the thing. too and if you don't know what they're. saying then they're not doing it. correctly. See, but but you can't say, you know what? It's boring. I know. Juilliard I would. fall asleep a lot. Oh my god, I have a. friend who it would piss her off. As. soon as I was in the class, we'd have. the greatest actors greatest. Shakespearean actors in the world come. to the school. Within 5 minutes, I would. be dead asleep. I would be knocked out.

with my lip hitting my lap. I mean, I. would be knocked out. And to this day, she was like, I can't even believe you. would do that. I can't believe you would. do that. And I said, did you ever did it. ever occur to you that it just didn't. excite me? >> Mhm. Mhm. But that's the thing with. Shakespeare. You just don't want it to. be boring because at the end of the day, here's the thing. It's just about. people. It can be can be kings and. queens. >> a soap opera most of the time those. plays.

But is it I mean, thank you for saying. that because the thing about like art in. general is if you don't figure out how. to find a a in, sometimes you feel. really strange when everybody else is in. there and you're like, "What is it? Why. How come I can't connect?". >> Yeah, but Amy, let me tell you. something. We going down the road of. talking about acting like it's real. deep. People don't see it. I see it as. deep. You see it as deep. Most people do. not see it as deep because once again,

it's about mistaking your presence for. the event. Yeah, that's right. Being I. mean, my big thing, I love scenes. I. can't stand love scenes. I can't stand. watching them. I can't stand doing them. I'm like Ooh. I finally said how to get away with. murder. I'm not doing any more love. scenes anymore. I mean, that's it. You. you write a love scene, I'm not doing. it. Unless you give me a boyfriend who. has a stomach. Wait, say more.

A big gut. Yeah. And you know why? Why? Cuz you'll actually write the scene. Yeah. >> be about taking off the shirt and the. six-pack abs. I mean. >> That's right. I'm watching. [clears throat]. I did a scene with Billy Brown who I. love all Billy Brown love everyone. And it's TV. Yeah. So, Annalise Keating. is in bed. Annalise Keating is sort of sleeps with. a lot of people, men women. >> Yeah. Which cannot be any opposite for.

me. I mean, I'm like, "Oh my god.". So, and I'm in the bed, I'm laying down and. everything and then he gets up with his. underwear and they I mean, they. literally just taking his underwear. down, putting his makeup on and he's got. his abs and then they want him to walk. into the bathroom and come out with you. know one of those scrub brushes. and slap it on his hand as if he's. slapping my ass. So, he's like slap slap. slap.

as we're saying the dialogue. I'm in the scene, Amy, and I'm like, "You got to cut. You've got [laughter] a. cut. Please cut. That is That's That's my nightmare. That's a nightmare. It's a freaking. [laughter] nightmare. >> That's a nightmare. So, I said, "If you. write someone with a gut, maybe we won't. be in bed. Maybe it will be about. everything else. And when we finally. kiss, it's like something that's. organically happening. But right now, for me, a lot of love scenes, it's like. that's the time to go to the bathroom.

>> [laughter]. >> You want to pick up, go to bathroom, you. come back, [screaming] you haven't. missed anything. Oh my god, I. [clears throat] feel you. I feel you. The couple I've not done many, but the. couple times it's been on the call. sheet, I'm like, "Oh, no. This is my. This is the worst day." And any By the. way, anybody that's like, "Ooh, I got a. love scene today." Red flag. >> [laughter]. >> I had to do a love scene with um. Tom Verica, who cannot be more lovely.

How to Get Away with Murder, first love. scene. Well, actually, my first love. scene was with Billy Brown in the. and it got cut. And I'm so happy it got. cut. >> [laughter]. >> Cuz we were having sex on my car in in. Philadelphia, and it was 12°. I was. terrified. First love scene of my life, but the. second love scene, Tom Verica, who plays. my husband on How to Get Away with. Murder. So, we're getting prepared for the love. scene. in the trailer. And the makeup artists are saying, "So,

do you want anything to cover?" I mean, I have stretch marks. >> Yeah. I mean, I got stretch marks. everywhere. I got stretch marks on my. ass. I got stretch marks on my arms. I. got stretch marks everywhere. I'm just. going to say it. >> We all do. And so, I'm like, "Yeah, I. want makeup. I want makeup on my arms. I. want makeup on my ass." [gasps]. And it's like. I got makeup on my ankles. Mhm. Okay? She's getting makeup on I mean, we're. just basically spraying [laughter]. ourselves with. makeup. Both of us terrified, okay? >> [laughter]. >> And then finally, I had the big aha.

moment. I said, "Tom, this is what we're. going to do. We're going to hold it up for the. regular people." Yes. >> to hold it up for the people out there. who, you know, may have a little bit of. something sticking out there or. whatever. And. there was makeup all over the sheets. [laughter]. Makeup all over the bed, you know. You. know, thank God my wig didn't come off, you know. And that was a. >> nothing sexy about it. Nothing when you.

do a love scene, in my opinion, there's. nothing sexy about it. It's just. it's hard. Your search for the realness. in things, like the the the way you're. looking for the truth in things in your. own life and in your work, it it it dovetails so beautifully with. August Wilson. Can you talk about your. how you felt about doing his work and. like well, how important he is to you as. a as a writer? >> important because he writes about black. people. It's our cadences. It's my mom, my dad, my father. It's how we talked,

you know. How I listened to them, how I. talked, you know. And that's the beauty. of it because, you know, otherwise, listen, I went to Juilliard. We were. doing George Bernard Shaw, Strindberg, you know, Chekhov, which who I love, you. know, Shakespeare. So, I did Blanche. DuBois. Yeah. >> it was just a scene in a but I had to do. If if you've ever read Blanche DuBois, I. could not be any different than Blanche. DuBois. She's extremely fragile. >> Yeah.

You know, fading beauty queen, you know, all of those things. So, to see. and to hear me, you know, take my deep. voice and try to reel it down and sound. like a white southern woman and doing. [singing] all that, it was like, "Oh my. I can't do this." I mean, I shouldn't. say I can't do it. I can do it. I can. transform. I could do all of that. But. then, you know, people in the audience. have got to, you know, let me ignore the. fact that this is a deep voice black. woman who is self-possessed and very.

grounded and is not but with August. Wilson. I don't do any of that. I still have to. do the work. But I could do a work in a way that. invites me in. You know, and that's the beauty of. that's the beauty of August Wilson. And. you're nominated for a Tony 3 years. after you get out of school for that? I. mean, do you remember when you found out. you were nominated? That must have been. incredible feeling.

I found out I was nominated. You know, back in the day back in the day when you. had those. answering machines that you had to call. >> [laughter]. >> You had to call the answering machine. I. would call every single day to see if I. had an audition. So, I called and my. agent at the time said, "Viola, you got. a Tony nomination.". >> [clears throat]. >> Oh my god. I ran to my parents' house. They don't know what a Tony award is.

And my little nieces and nephews they. don't know what the hell a Tony award. is. I ran in the house I said, "You. guys." My little nieces and nephews they. were in their diapers running around. acting bad like I love bad kids. I ran in the house I said, "You. [clears throat] guys. I got a Tony nomination." And they were. they started throwing themselves on the. floor. They didn't know what the hell a. Tony nomination [laughter] was. But we all just jumped and I mean, come. on. Yeah, amazing. Come on.

You were a very accomplished working. actor on a lot of shows before a kind of. America at large knew your name. You had. a really substantial body of work. Do you feel like that allowed you, you. know, it was just like that 10,000 hours. idea that you worked really hard and. often and kind of figured out. and you worked in TV, you worked in.

film, you worked on stage, you like got. to like feel confident in your skill. Yes, but once again, that's the task. Yeah, but it's not always everyone's. route. >> No, I I understand. >> Yeah. And I understand that and therein. lies the problem. >> Yeah. with the business. That anyone feels like they can do it, you know? But there was never a time when I was at. the Guthrie Theater or working in. Newton, Massachusetts. I worked in. Newton, Massachusetts. Um every I've.

worked everywhere. I've worked with. everyone. Huntington Theater, ACT, Mark. Taper Forum, Goodman Theater. I thought I'd already made it. >> Yeah. I did. Yeah. You know, making your 650 a. week and then you did your 10 weeks and. then you qualified for unemployment. So. you got your unemployment and you call. in that unemployment every Sunday, got. that 350. I think it went up to three. $390 a week. I thought I'd already made it cuz I. could say that I am an actor.

>> [snorts]. >> But you do have to put in those hours in. order to have some level of a process. because here's what I think. what I um whenever I do a job. this is my thing with actors. It's a. little bit of my pet peeve. A little bit. Is this. If you have a. criticism. for a writer Mhm. >> [clears throat]. >> you never have it for another actor. Mhm. You don't criticize them. That's. like a no-no. Mhm. Okay? I don't care if. it's a day player. You don't tell anyone.

how to act. That's the director's job. Oh, I love it. >> If you have a criticism. of the work, if you say, you know, this. scene is not working, you have to tell. them why. And you have to know how to fix it. I will say. once again I'm a negotiating. I would. say 98% of the time people don't know. how to fix it. Yeah. That's such a great point because I've. often said. that actors should spend a day being a.

writer getting notes from actors because. the way that people give writers. feedback is often appalling. It's like. this isn't and not just actors, anybody, but like the way writers receive. feedback is like dismissive, it's. insulting, they don't have a fix like. you're to your point, something they've. worked really really hard on they hand. it over and people just kind of like. open it up and barely pay attention to. it, they barely read it. They don't know. the words, they don't they don't they. they're like challenging stuff before.

it's even tried out. And then conversely. I always say to writers Uh-huh. now put. on someone else's clothes. >> That's right. Mhm. Go over there and. uh scramble an egg Yep, exactly. >> while you remember. Yeah. [laughter]. two two pages of dialogue while everyone. you know is on the other side of the. room drinking coffee looking at you. Exactly. [laughter]. And then we're even. Yeah, absolutely. Whenever you have to fix a script, sometimes it's really not that deep to.

fix something. It could be a simple. choice, but what happens is the filter. that goes through is okay, is it going. to get more viewers? Are people going to. want to see it's going to turn on the 18. to 34 year old boys who come see the. movie. That's a big one, Amy. Oh yeah. I. mean. >> The boys. The boy and also will men yeah. will men care will men care about this. project and it's like Yeah, that was the. Woman King. Oh yeah. I I bet there was a. lot of discussion about like we want to.

make sure our men show up and it's like. do we? Do [laughter] we want to make. sure our men show up? Like like these. days me too. I've been like maybe they. don't come to this one. >> Yeah, exactly. How about we just make. one we just make one for us. Just one. I'm playing a Agoge warrior. I've just. chopped off five men's heads in the. first two minutes. So, and maybe it's. just not for them. I mean, [laughter]. it's it's like it's like a lot of the. the notes were, you know, less dirt and. more lipstick. Are you freaking kidding.

me? Wild. Are you kidding me? Wild. I'm playing. an Agoge warrior and I'm thinking about. lipstick? >> [laughter]. >> And eyelash extensions? That film, you. are so badass in that film. That film is. so beautiful. I loved it. You and your. husband produced it together, generated it, made it for yourself. Such. an example of like taking the currency. that you had. and using it and making that project. And the thing I wanted to ask you about. Woman King, The Woman King,

is and for people that don't know, it's, you know, based on a real story for people that. don't know about a Could you explain. what it was based It's based on the. Agoge. tribe of warriors in Dahomey in Benin, West Africa in like 1854. And they were. all female army unit that would go out. and fight neighboring tribes. And, you. know, Yoruba tribes. Now, you know, the. controversy is is there was a lot of.

controversy, you know, involved with the. Agoge warriors because they would have. slaves. Okay? I think ultimately that is what. maybe people had problems with. And the. other problem is, you know, it was an. all black cast, mostly female cast. Mostly, without getting into it cuz. there will never be enough time in the. world, dark-skinned females. who have muscles and who are taking men. down. I mean, I trained for 5 hours a.

day and I was the oldest. So, we trained 5 hours a day for months. hand-to-hand combat. I have to tell you though with that. movie without getting too much into it. cuz there's a lot about that movie. >> Yeah. that was like very important to me. >> Yeah. I didn't think it was a big deal. for women. to be warriors. >> Right. I didn't think that it was a big deal to.

have a title like The Woman King. >> Mhm. Because first of all, there's a lot. of kings who are women in Africa. They're actually called kings. I didn't know that that was going. [clears throat] to be a controversy. until we did it. >> Mhm. Mhm. I thought this is badass. I. mean, I would take my toy machete home. to practice with my husband. I mean, not. around my husband cuz he would say, "Oh, V, this this is a lot." But but um but I.

just didn't know it was a big deal until. we started shooting it and there was you. know, can we make your curls looser and. more pretty? >> Mhm. Mhm. Can we do eyelash extensions? >> Mhm. Maybe a different title. Mhm. You know, this whole sort of watering. down of what it means to. >> don't forget to stay soft. >> Yeah. >> Like while you're the hardest warrior. ever, don't forget to be a little bit. cute and soft because God forbid you.

just step into your full power. Absolutely and God forbid that you don't. turn me on. >> That's right. That you don't look sexy. >> That's right. >> [snorts]. >> And you know, it it it it sort of leads. into the whole thing of the value of. beauty. >> Mhm. You know. >> That's right. I mean, I'm definitely. like at 60 years old, I feel fabulous. because I am one of those women I got. that done and over with very very early.

in life. You know, I feel for the the beautiful. women who were younger and now they're. older and they walk in the room and no. one's looking at them. Yeah, that's. tough when beauty your beauty is your. number one currency cuz it goes away. fast. Exactly. It's really fickle. And but I will say and you spoke about. this when you were doing the the Woman. King like the way in which you. created this new relationship to your. body in your 50s. I think a a lot of. women I know a lot of women I know I. speak for myself you start to really. take kind of look and say, "Okay, this.

is my one body. I really, you know, the. the ways in which I got to kind of put. it in the on the back burner in my 20s. and 30s. I really have to pay attention. to it now." And I've joked on here like. we got to eat 35 g of protein and we. have to lift weights and whatever. But. you did that. You What What did you. learn about yourself when you were. training 5 hours a day and You know. what, Amy, it was the first time I could. walk into a room with that um.

it was a leather sort of shirt I had on. armor [clears throat] that I had on and. so my stomach was exposed. It was the. first time I could walk on the field and. in a room and totally be in my body. >> [clears throat]. >> You know, there there is something about. the female body what you're sort of. conditioned to believe about it that. it's got to be beautiful, right? So it's. got to be thin and beautiful. And the why. and the how it has to be beautiful is.

always tied to male desirability. That's. right. It's never tied to being capable. It's tied to a shrinking. Yeah, exactly. Shrinking and not being capable, not. being strong, not being, you know, it's. never ours. Yeah. And so even in the practicing. I was going to lie a little bit. I was going to lie a little. >> hope. >> it was a little tiring. Like I hope it.

wasn't too tiring. >> is what the lie was. This is what the lie was, Amy. Cuz. >> Okay, cue music for negotiation. >> cue uh you know, hit 'em up like Tupac. >> [laughter]. >> I was going to say, you know, if you. know, >> [laughter]. >> just to. in in the in the practicing cuz we would. do an hour of weightlifting, 30 minutes of running on the treadmill. at 10.0. >> Oh, no. I've done 10.0. That is a. disaster. [clears throat]. >> It's it and it wasn't a disaster.

>> minutes straight of 10.0? Like was it. sprints or. >> Sprints. God damn it. >> And then 3 and 1/2 hours and I mean by. the end I mean and you saw all these. young girls, they'd have a little sweat. on their bodies. >> [laughter]. >> I would sweat out three, four shirts a. day. So I would go to coreo for 3 and. 1/2 hours and you're taking down. eight, seven dudes at the same time, okay? Eight, seven dudes. What I was. going to say is, you know, it was it was. so great because then I could really tap.

into the part of me that I never tapped. into before. That's. I was always that girl that wanted to. kick someone's ass and probably did a. couple of times, but it gave me. permission to do it. >> Yes. And I'm in I'm there was one guy. that huge, 6'4, 260. I mean, come on. Oh, that's exciting. >> And the make and and and. I felt like I could do it. >> Yeah. Yeah.

>> Now, whether I could do it or not in. real life, who knows, but the feeling. like I could You have stood toe-to-toe. with such amazing actors. Denzel, you. talked about Meryl. You worked with Chadwick. When you're in. that zone with people that good and. you're like what is it I guess I guess. I'm like I'm asking you like what's it. like to be in the World series? >> Yeah, exactly. [laughter]. And and not piss in your pants. Um. >> [clears throat]. >> Well, with Meryl, that was it. Yeah, I. mean, she's the best. She's so great and.

she's funny and. >> funny and. >> cool. >> and cool. It's like. >> It's like you could be that great and. that cool. Well, you're like that, too. That's why you guys are so good cuz. you're you're so good that you don't. have to be. because you know how good you. are. >> And you know there's out there. Yes, because they're not that good. You know, or I should say they're not. being led by insecurity. So, you're you. and Meryl meet, of course you guys are. friends and like respect each other. because you're both so good.

>> I followed her everywhere. [clears throat]. On set? On set. I [laughter] mean, to. the point where it was like. You know when you say to yourself, okay, tomorrow I'm not going to do that. because I don't think it made her. It didn't make her feel comfortable cuz. at one point she would never admit this. She probably doesn't remember it, but. she was going to set and I was trying to. keep her from going to set. cuz I was too excited. So, I was like, "So, how's it going?" She was like, "Oh, good. So, I'll see you later." She was.

going upstairs and then I was like, "So, so it's [clears throat] going good, right?". >> [laughter]. >> So, so the day was really good and you. could You know when someone's trying to. do something and you're stopping them. from doing it and they don't feel like. they [laughter] don't want to be rude to. you by going, "Shut the up. I got. to get to set." So, she was being really. nice and I said, "Okay, so I'll see you. later, right? So, I just work next. week?". So, I work next week and you know, she. was like, "Yeah. Yeah.". So, that was the first day and then I. was like, "I'm not going to do that.

tomorrow. So, I'm not going to do that. tomorrow." I went back to work. Oh, yeah. I mean. >> set WE'RE SITTING THERE. AND then I'm staring at her. And I'm really shy. >> Mhm. She's not that shy. She's sort of. shy, but not that shy. So, then I don't. because I'm I'm not good with small. talk. >> Mhm. And I go. longest pause. And then I said, um. can I get you some tea? >> [laughter]. >> And she said. she said no, baby. No, you don't have to.

get me any tea. And I was like, okay. >> [laughter]. >> So, I couldn't think of anything else. I kept staring, staring. And you could. tell you know when you stare, you could. tell she was really trying to be. gracious. And the only thing I could. come up with is like. you got beautiful skin. >> [laughter]. >> I don't know what I actually said that. to Meryl Streep. I love you. [laughter]. And then finally my husband who is like.

Vi, did you tell that woman that you. love her work? You didn't tell that woman YOU LOVE HER. WORK? I SAID, WELL, JULIUS, I just you. she said, when I get to that damn set, I'm going to tell her that I love her. work. And I'm going to tell her. [clears throat] that you you that that. she is your favorite actress. I said, don't say that. And Julius finally came to the set and. he said, Viola loves you so much and you. are so beautiful, Meryl. You are such a. wonderful actress. [clears throat] She. blushed. She was like, oh, Julius.

>> [laughter]. >> Well, I have met Julius and Julius is. something else. I mean, do you find I. mean, I know I I find that sometimes in. my life people want me to be funny and. they're a little disappointed when I'm. not quite bringing it. Do you feel. conversely that sometimes people assume. that you're going to like exchange in. something very deep and serious with. them and you just want to laugh? All the time. >> Mhm. >> [laughter]. >> Because I feel like what I'm learning.

about you is that you're you love you. love to joke around and laugh. Oh, but I. mean, I can't really even joke around. like I want to cuz I'm yeah, dirty with. it. Fantastic. Why can't you do it? >> Oh, >> no, no, no, no. >> [laughter]. >> No, no, no, no, no, no. You don't want. to go down like that, Amy. No, you don't want to go down I'm dirty. with you. >> did you love grow like who were your Oh, the first one. Who'd you love? Moms. Mabley. >> Oh, yeah. And she was dirty, dirty. >> So dirty. I would play that album over and over.

again. Flip Wilson. >> Yes. Redd Foxx. >> Redd Foxx. Over and over again. And the. dirtier the better. >> Yeah. We can't go there. Yeah. So funny. Yeah. Yeah. So you would play. those records when you were Oh, I would. >> Yeah. And you know why, too? Because they told stories. >> Mhm. And come on, the original dirty of the. dirtiest of the funniest is Richard. Pryor. Whenever I feel down, I play that.

Live in Concert. >> Mhm. >> [clears throat]. >> over and over and over again. Oh my god, that's just the best. And he talks about. his kids one part where he talks about. his kids and how he doesn't know how to. swim. And every time he gets into the. pool, he's drowning. He's basically. drowning [laughter] and his KIDS ARE. LIKE, "DADDY, HE'S SO FUNNY." AND HE'S. LIKE, "You I'm drowning, you know?" [laughter]. It's like, I love that, you know? >> Yeah. Okay, now I want to get to your. book before we finish because. you know,

your relationship to writing is an. interesting one to me. I mean, I'm sure. you have, you know, we talked about it. earlier, this idea of like when you're. acting and you're writing and you're. working with writers and what kind of. writing looks like. And then there's the. different kind of version of writing. when you're writing. book, when you're writing fiction, um and when you're writing a memoir, at. which your memoir was a huge hit. You. won the Grammy. that was your you got was your. when you did the recording of it, when. you read your book on tape. And.

that book came out a while ago. And I'm. curious, you know, when we write about. our stories and then they go out into. the world and everybody gets to kind of. Yeah. Um read them and process them. Have you ever heard from anyone from. your past after that book came out? I. hear from various ones all the time. My. fourth grade teacher in fourth grade I I. have the story in my book that was and I. actually went back to my fourth grade.

class, too. The actual classroom. But my fourth grade. that was almost the height of my. dysfunction, my dysfunctional life. But in the book, um. it still has a lot of shame for me. Um I would go to school, I would smell. so bad. I mean, there were no words for it, okay? And this teacher that I had that I. loved. I loved her, Mrs. Cody. She sent.

pictures to my sister. who's a school She was a school teacher. in Central Falls. She sent all these. pictures that she had saved of me. Wow. >> pictures of my childhood. She saved. these pictures and she saved some of my. writings. Wow. And in one of the. pictures. I was at a museum. looking at the sculpture and all the. kids were behind me who were in my. class.

But I was looking at the sculpture and. my mouth was gapped open in awe. And I thought to myself. you captured something in me that I. didn't know I had in me. Was already that when something was. beautiful, when something was created. that had. that I would have no connection to. otherwise, I saw it. That was in one of the pictures.

And she told my sister that she never. forgot me as a student. And she was the. one who actually told me that I needed. to go to the nurse one day because I. smelled so bad that my mom had to get. some soap and hot water and you need to. wash yourself cuz the odor is too much. She was a teacher who told me that and I. loved her. That's why it hurt so bad. >> Yeah. See, once again, the paradox, right? >> Yeah, she was she was she was looking. out for you. Feeling shame, she's the one who I felt.

shame me. She didn't really shame me. Yeah. Do you know what I'm saying? But that was a big one. I mean, it feels. like writing has been something that's. that's been a big thing that you've. wanted to do for a long time and then. you write you're now co-written a book. with James Patterson. It's on my shelf. It's right here. Judge Stone. Judge. Stone. Book is out. Yep. What is what is. it about? It is about a 13-year-old girl named. Nova.

who has an abortion, who gets raped and. has an abortion. And. um Union Springs, Alabama. Alabama has. the strictest abortion laws. And the doctor who performs the abortion. is now on trial for murder. So, it is definitely To Kill a. Mockingbird. It is just it's pulsating. It's all of those things. But, you know, even like To Kill a Mockingbird, which, you know, the courtroom was pulsating,

you know, Tom Robinson, Mayella Ewell, it was just just heart-stopping, right? But, the characters within it. were just as memorable as the trial. That's what I feel about. you know, Judge Stone and James. Patterson is like Malala, you can do. anything and No, I can't. I can't, you. know, >> Tell us what you can't do. Oh. >> [laughter]. >> I can't bake. Okay. You know. >> You could probably learn. I have a.

15-year-old at home. It's like it's. trust me. And. you're probably out of the teen years. >> No, I'm right in the middle of it. I got. a 15 and a 17-year-old. >> Oh, I have a 15-year-old. >> Yeah, there's no easier way to feel. uncool. than when your kid your teen kid looks. at you like, "What?" I'm not cool. No, but you're not supposed to be cool to. your kid. If you're cool to your kid, that's weird. >> I think so. It's like you're not cool. >> nobody wants to be the parent that like. hangs with their kids and like their.

kids are like, "Wow, your mom is so. cool." Like. >> [clears throat]. >> I don't want to go to an escape room. >> No, >> [laughter]. >> you don't have to. You don't have to. I tried to. That's. why I jumped out of a plane. I tell. people I jumped out of a plane in. >> What? Oh, Oahu, um, Hawaii. I jumped out of a plane to. be cool for my daughter. I did, Amy. What year was this? Just recently? I was. 57, 56, 56, 57. So, I'm 60 now, yeah.

What did you, um, think of jump What it What was it like? Did you Was it awful? Seems awful. It seems It truly seems like awful. Have. you ever jumped So, obviously. >> No, I'm not jumping out of a plane. I jumped out of a plane because we had. the most awesome nanny. When I say awesome, it's like everyone. else is great nanny and then ours was. like God, okay? She jumped out of the plane. >> [laughter]. >> You know, you're you're jumping in.

tandem with someone who's talking like. >> going to say you're jumping in tandem. with someone you met like yesterday. >> Yesterday, and he was like, "So, by all. you know, you're great actor. So, what. do you like better, theater or film?". And I want to say, "Shut the up.". >> [laughter]. >> LIKE, "FOCUS, ZACH.". "MY FAVORITE movie is the parachute. working.". >> [laughter]. >> And look at that's yummy mommy volcano. right there and that erupted in the I. don't WANT TO GET IN a volcano. And then they rolled the curtain up and.

they say, "Okay, so let's go." That's cool. I mean, Violet, that's a badass that you. did that. I will never do it again. Although although it was a terrific. experience, I told my daughter as I was. falling down cuz she said, "Mama, if you. die, can I have your wigs and your. money?". >> [laughter]. >> So I'm falling down. So I'm falling down. I'm falling down. and I told her, "Don't listen to Mama. Don't listen to me." I think every cuss.

word that I could [laughter] possibly. imagine. I mean, it was coming out of my. mouth. You have no idea. >> [laughter]. >> But I did it because of Molly. >> it. You did it. >> of Molly. >> And you and Julius, we talked about your. husband a little bit. >> Mhm. You guys have. like when you do stuff together and you. um talk publicly together, you laugh a. lot. You laugh a lot and you laugh. Amy? >> You have fun I mean, look, your your.

relationship is very aspirational and I. don't want to project upon it cuz I I. know everyone's relationship is their. own private. you know, a relationship is like a. country with its own set of rules and. you don't really know it unless you live. there. But what it seems like is you have the. best relationship ever and you have a. wonderful marriage and beautiful loving. partner. >> It's fantastic. He drives me crazy. I. drive him crazy and want to hit him, but. then I. the love of my life. >> Yeah. You know, he's just the love of my life,

you know? And. >> [clears throat]. >> when I say laugh, no, Amy, I mean, just he is a character and every time he. comes up and you know, in public, you. know, he puts, you know, the brave, the. mask, and everything on. But, the guy is. absolutely hysterical. I mean, and and does the oddest things that for. me, I'm There's a little bit of me that. says, "Is he crazy?". >> [laughter]. >> He could be crazy.

I mean, he lost his salt- He couldn't. find his saltine crackers one day. >> Ooh, that's interesting. >> Saltine damn crackers. And he was. convinced that someone broke into our. house, was living in our attic, and had. stolen his saltine crackers. And so, I was like, "Why are you walking around the house. with a baseball bat?". >> [laughter]. >> Me? There's some- I CAN'T FIND MY. SALTINE CRACKERS, V. I SAID, "WELL, DID YOU look in the.

cabinet behind the tuna fish?" He Yeah, and and they ain't there. There's There. was four packages, V. Now, there's only. three packages left. V, there's someone. in the attic. And here's for me what for. me is about love. I was like, "Oh my. god. I He's crazy. There's someone living in the attic?". >> [laughter]. >> And what did I do? [clears throat] I. grabbed my baseball bat, too, and we. looked for the person together in the. attic. >> [laughter]. >> until I finally found the saltine.

crackers near the tuna fish. And it's. just like, I love it. I. do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. >> your love is very very special. >> he's talking about his mom and just the. stories he's another one that he could. tell. >> Well, we talked we talked to him before. your interview. And I want you to know, he's the only spouse we've talked to. Uh in the you know, we we do a thing. where we kind of talk well behind. somebody's back before they come in and. I get a question to ask our guest. And.

Julius was the only spouse [laughter] we. wanted to talk to because we were like, first of all, they seem like they really. like each other. Um [laughter]. um And but he's he's he spoke so. beautifully, of course, about you, Viola, and but he also speaks to a. bigger idea. of what women, a lot of women, yearn for. and hope for, which is that somebody. really sees them. Like somebody sees. them in real time and celebrates their. wins. >> Oh, yeah. Like he does. He does. You seem like you.

do that for each other. Oh, yeah, totally. >> And again, a simple thing to say, but. but sometimes hard to find like that. Do you think that is the secret to why. you've been together so long is the way. you do that for each other? You know, by. the time I met Julius, I absolutely. understood what love is. You know, first of all, I thought he was. cute. You know, I thought he had a tight. ass. I'm not going to lie to you, Amy. >> Yeah, don't. Yeah, he had a tight ass. He was football player. So cute. You. guys were actors on a set. He was.

handing you blood. You were in a hot. nurse's outfit. Yeah, and I was like, he's really cute. And I was really lonely. And um. So, that was it, of course. I mean, I. just with him, it was. And I prayed for. a football player type dude, you know, and it was him. Yeah. And um. But you know what got me with him? Is. he told me his story. Mhm. Cuz he's a. talker. But he told me his whole story.

from the get-go. Cool. Everything. Good. and bad. >> Straight, no chaser. Mhm. You know, he. raised his kids on his own. He's been. married, you know, all of those things. It just And for me, it opened me up. Mhm. He's just a dude. He's He's been. wired right. He He has. Well, he has. three really weird questions for me to. ask you. >> [laughter]. >> I know he's great in every way, but I. don't understand these questions.

>> [laughter]. >> Julius. >> Julius, one of them is. tell ask her about Zuni. >> [laughter]. >> Who is Zuni and can I Google it? Because. Julius was talking about a TV show that. he grew up with I've never heard of. Power XL5. >> What? Oh, no, Amy. Zuni. >> Amy. It's a cartoon with puppets that he. watched when he was a kid. Wow. >> Zuni, do you see Zuni? >> Hold on. Z U N I? >> [laughter]. >> Okay. You see Zuni now?

>> Okay. With the giant head? Yeah, you see. that? >> Let's see. Let's see. Let's see. And you. did you pressed in the images of it? >> Let's see. Where's Zuni? >> [laughter]. >> OKAY. ZUNI. Z O O N I E. Okay, that's. why. >> I'm glad that's why I. I'm I'm a classic spelling something. wrong. For your listeners, Zuni looks. like. >> Zuni Who does Zuni look No, I'm going to. tell you who Zuni look like. We were laying in bed and Julius said, "V, you know who you look like? What is.

it? As soon as I met you, I was like, she make me feel all warm and fuzzy. inside. She remind me of somebody I. know.". >> [laughter]. >> And then I thought about it. Zuni. You. look like Zuni. That's who you are, V. Zuni. And that's the This is the show. that he would watch every Saturday. He. was the only one in this family who I. can't believe the show. It looks. >> I can't believe the show. It looks like. it's dolls and puppets. >> Dolls and puppets and he was the only. one who wanted to watch it. None of his. brothers and sisters wanted to watch it.

They said, "Ma, Julius, he want to watch We don't want. to watch Zuni." And his mom would say, "Let that LET THAT DAMN BOY WATCH HIS. ZUNI. THAT'S ALL YOU TALK ABOUT, LEE LEE. AND ZUNI Zuni Zuni damn Zuni. Watch that. damn Zuni and get your ass out of the. house after you watch that Zuni." So, Zuni. I remind him of Zuni. And Zuni is. >> Big lips and big eyes. It's like almost. like a little ferret meets a sloth meets. a Amy, no. Amy It's cute though. Zuni is. cute. >> No, Zuni is messed up.

>> [laughter]. >> I call him Ferdinand cuz he looks. exactly like Ferdinand. We We We. Yeah, we name people. [laughter] He. looked just like Ferdinand. Okay, the other question he wanted me to. ask you is, ask her about um Shadow of a. Gunman. He said He's setting you up for some. stories. >> Oh, he's setting me up. It was one of. our first dates. >> [laughter]. >> He said, "V, you want to come If you If. you know him, you would know that this. is a great imitation of [laughter].

Julius. V, one of my friends is doing Shadow of. a Gunman. You know that play, you know. that Irish play, Sean O'Casey, Shadow of. a Gunman, in some small theater off. Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Santa Monica.". So, we go to see Shadow of a Gunman and. I'm walking in going, "Oh, we could just. go see some theater." And so, we go to. this theater, we walk in and I'm like, "Okay, let's sit in the front." 99. seats. No No one's at the theater. So, I. let's let's sit in the front. He was. like, "Uh-uh, we ain't [clears throat]. sitting in the damn front. Let's sit all.

the way IN THE BACK. LET'S SIT up there. in the back." I was like, "But Julius, we're all the way in the back." He said, "V, let's sit up in the back." We. [laughter] sit up in the back. He's got. the chair near the wall. As soon as the. curtains go up, he's dead asleep. >> [laughter]. >> The only reason why he wanted to sit in. the wall is to take a nap all throughout. the play and the only time he woke up is. when he thought some sex scene was going. to happen. He woke [laughter] up for 2. seconds. He woke up for 2 seconds. thinking he was going to see some good. [laughter]. goodamuses, as we call it, and nothing.

happened. It was the worst production in. the world. >> [laughter]. >> and oh my god. And then afterwards, he. went up to his friend and he said, "I. love that performance. [laughter]. You were fan And you know when you did. that thing, that thing you did?" I was. like, "Julius, you slept through that. whole damn performance.". >> [laughter]. >> Well, are you guys watching, listening? Are you Are you What is What's making. you laugh these days? Where do you get.

your comedy? In bed. Yes, with each. other. With each other, it sounds like. Oh my. god, with his imitations. I mean, no, [laughter] Amy, like I mean. just absolutely hysterical. Yeah, it's. so. >> [laughter]. >> it's so fun to hear how you guys like to. play. Oh, yeah. >> Like it's like it really feels like. there's like young versions of you. Like. he'll be young versions of you. I mean. it. Together. This morning we were just talking when I.

first when we first got together and. they wanted me to do the play that I won. my first Tony Award for, King Hedley. >> Yeah. But I remember when I was offered. the role. and I said, I don't know if that role is good enough. for me, Julius. First of all, can I just. tell you I never talk like this. So, the. fact that I remember talking like this. shows you that I'm full of Mhm. So, I said, Julius, [clears throat] that role is not. good enough for me. And he's sitting in. the living room, he's just listening to. me. He just got out of the shower. I.

said, this role is not good enough for. me and you know, they think I'm going to. go to New York and they think I'm going. to do A, B, and C and they think I'm. going to do that role. I need the lead. role. That I need to get the lead role. and blah blah blah blah blah and he's. listening, listening, listening and then. there's a pause. And I said, so what do you think, Julius? He said, This what I think, B. You need to take your ass to New York. and you need to do that damn play. because here's the thing, you ain't got. no damn job and we ain't [laughter] and. we and we not bringing in any damn.

money. So, you need to go on and take. your ass to to New York and do that. play. And we talk about that all the. time. You know, those moments. >> Yes. You know, of when I told him for. the first time that I had the most. horrific credit. Yeah. And I was about. to cry. I said my credit score was 500. And I kept that as a secret because he. was so organized and together and. responsible, you know? And I said, "Julius,

I have to tell you something." He said, "Okay, B, go ahead. Tell me.". I said, "Julius, I have bad credit.". And he said, "I knew your black ass had. bad credit from the moment I met you. I. could tell by the way you dressed and. everything. You're all over the damn. place. That's okay. I know you're. starting to cry. Come over here. We use. my credit. Don't worry about it. I knew. your black ass had bad credit." And that. was it. Like moments like that of. levity. Yes, levity. Levity of.

>> Safety. Safety of connection. Of. >> Yes. You know, the the freedom that I had to. tell him I had bad credit. But but also. how he helped me build from there. >> Yeah. That's the thing. >> Yeah. That was my big thing. I finally. found it. Someone who makes your life better. Mhm. That's love. I think so. Yeah. That's a. That's That's what a healthy. relationship looks like. And a tight. ass. And a tight. >> [laughter].

>> To end our convo today, what's the best. thing about being in your 60s? It's the. next decade up for me and I mean, I've. been loving my 50s more than my 40s and. more and more and more. What it What. What What's What What are you loving. about your 60s? In your 60s, your life is yours. Mhm. That's the best part of it. Your life is. yours. You realize that, you know, it's it's a. quote that it's it's been running.

through my mind is I know it's sort of. morbid, but on your last day on Earth, the definition of hell is your last day. on Earth, who you became. meets the person you could have become. Mhm. I feel that that's 60s, man. Mhm. The. 60s is I'm going to become. [clears throat] that woman because all. that that I was told in the. past that, you know, I had to make a.

certain amount of money or had to be. smart enough or pretty enough or thin. enough or whatever, none of that. means Yeah. My life right now is about who I love, who loves me, and what I leave behind. That's it. It is clean. And it's given me a certain level of. bravery, too. Now, if I could put some hormones in. there, that would be beautiful. [laughter]. That's amazing. I It makes me really.

look forward to what's ahead. Yeah, well, yeah, it's the other stuff, too, but we won't talk about that. >> to talk about that. Let's Yeah, we won't. We're just We'll get We'll deal with. that when it comes. >> [laughter]. >> Viola Davis, I It means so much that you. did this. Thank you. I mean, thank you. for being here today and for talking to. me and for doing this show. >> It's I just. absolutely adore you and your work. >> Well, I love you, too. >> And I'd love to move in with you and. your husband. It won't be weird. I'll. just be a roommate. But don't go into.

the attic and don't eat the saltine. crackers because you might get a. baseball bat on your head. Don't steal. the crackers. >> but I get hungry up there, [laughter]. but I want to listen to two of you. Um thank you so much for coming. It. really means a lot. >> Thank you, Aimee. Thank you so much, Viola. Um you're. incredible and so good at what you do. and it was so wonderful to talk to you. Thank you for for stopping by. For this Polar Plunge,

um one person we didn't get a chance to. talk to Viola about that I know she. highly reveres and was deeply influenced. by was the actress Cicely Tyson. And so, I just wanted to say her name here. because I know Viola has spoken about. her and got to work with her on many. projects including in in How to Get Away. with Murder. But, do yourself a favor um. and. uh if you haven't seen Cicely Tyson's. work, um it spans an incredible. amount of time in in American history.

She lived to 96 and. many of us got to know her when she. played um. Kunta Kinte's mother in Roots. Um but, Cicely at that point had been working on. on the stage for a very long time and. she's just been in. an incredible wide variety of television. and movies and is really. terrific actress and was one of. one of our Hollywood legends. So, um.

check her stuff out. I guess plunge into. Cicely Tyson and her work and Viola. Davis, uh we we love you. We can't wait to see. what you're doing next. So, thanks so. much for joining us and see you soon. Bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The. executive producers for this show are. Bill Simmons, Jenna [music]. Weiss-Berman, and me, Amy Poehler. The. show is produced by The Ringer and Paper. Kite. For The Ringer, production by Jack. Wilson, Kate Spallane, [music]. Kaya McMullen, and Aleya Zineris. For. Paper Kite, production by Sam Green,

Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss-Berman. Original music by Amy Miles. I love it. when it was a really. >> [music and singing]. >> good hang.