Viola Davis Praises ‘Ma Rainey’ Co-Star Chadwick Boseman’s “Total Commitment” To Acting

This year has been a doozy, huh? It would have been plenty just to deal with the ridiculousness of the US Presidential Election, but to add a global pandemic on top of it? The universe is clearly testing us all. However, this has also been a year filled with some heartbreaking passings, such as with “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman. But before the end of 2020, we’ll have a chance to see Boseman’s final performance in the Netflix original film, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” And his co-star, Viola Davis, has nothing but kind words to say about the actor’s skill.

Speaking to InStyle, Davis was asked to talk about her time with Boseman on ‘Ma Rainey’s’ as well as when she starred with him in the film, “Get On Up.” Both are biopics about famous musicians, but they are being released at polar opposites of Boseman’s career, pre-“Black Panther” and post-“Black Panther.” Regardless, Davis said that her co-star didn’t change one bit after becoming one of the biggest cultural icons on the planet.

“He was a beautiful man and a great artist,” said Davis. “It’s like what Issa Rae said: He was ours as African-Americans. He was someone who had a quality that very few have today, whether young or old, which is a total commitment to the art form of acting. Regardless of ego, regardless of any of it.”

She continued, “He was with the same agent he had when he started his career. And when you were with him on the set, he absolutely did not want celebrity treatment. He hated that. He really did. We actually had a little discussion about that. He said, ‘Viola, I don’t mind the work. I don’t mind all the hours. It’s the other stuff that exhausts me.’ He hated the celebrity part. I have to say, we all do. Because we have to be a persona that we just don’t know.”

Boseman and Davis are both in the conversation for awards recognition this year thanks to the work in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” (Boseman is also featured in “Da 5 Bloods,” Spike Lee’s Netflix film that is getting awards discussion, as well.) Perhaps we’ll see Boseman get honored for his skill with some trophies in early 2021? We’ll have to wait and see.