Viola Davis, who plays U.S. President Danielle Sutton in upcoming action thriller feature “G20,” says she didn’t model the role after anyone in particular.
“There was no one that I could model her after,” she told Variety Thursday before the awards ceremony for the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, where she will be honored for her career as an actor and producer.
The film, produced by Amazon MGM Studios and MRC Film, sees terrorists take over the G20 Summit, with Sutton bringing her statecraft and military experience to defend her family, fellow leaders and the world.
Sutton was “a completely fictitious character that was born out of the imagination of several writers,” she said. “It was the sort of thing you’d imagine as a kid, just playing the most heroic character you could possibly play, and you create Danielle Sutton, who was a war hero and then won the election on a liberal ticket. I think it just so happens that it mirrored a lot of what was happening in American politics at the time, but really it’s just meant to be a fun movie.”
Davis was vocal about her support for Vice President Kamala Harris in the recent U.S. election, even narrating a campaign video for her before Donald Trump eventually won. “It’s time for a new generation of leadership, one of optimism and a belief in a better future for all Americans,” Davis said in the video.
“G20” will premiere on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide when it releases, though a date has not been set yet. It’s directed by Patricia Riggen with a cast that also includes Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, Ramón Rodríguez, Antony Starr, Douglas Hodge, Elizabeth Marvel, Sabrina Impacciatore, Clark Gregg, Christopher Farrar, John Hoogenakker and MeeWha Alana Lee.
Davis is one of 27 people in history to have earned industry EGOT status, having won Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony award statuettes. However, she said in an onstage conversation earlier on Thursday that she’s “not going to have EGOT on my gravestone.” So later, Variety asked her: What would she like on her gravestone?
“I don’t know,” she responded with a laugh. “There’s not a lot of words you can put on a gravestone, you know. I just want to be the beloved daughter, beloved wife, beloved mom. I think those are the greatest roles that I could ever have in my life. Especially as a mom with [14-year-old daughter] Genesis — I wouldn’t put it on her that she’s my legacy, but if I can leave something in her, I think about that more than I think about any accomplishments that I’ve had in my career.”
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