-Welcome back to the show.
Viola Davis, can I just say something?
Last time you were here, I predicted --
I kind of predicted -- -What'd you predict?
-That you were going to win the Academy Award for "Fences."
[ Cheers and applause ]
And then you went and did it, and it was just great.
And how did that feel? Was it fun?
That was your first time, right?
-That was my first time. I have to say, it was pretty good.
-Yeah. -And, you know, that's not my thing.
You know, I say I'm not about awards or anything.
-Yeah. -But that felt pretty good there.
-Exciting. Well-deserved.
I knew it.
I loved it. You were so great.
You're great in everything, but I knew it.
I was like, "Oh, I knew it." It was such a great performance.
Well, the accolades keep coming.
Congrats on the cover of "Glamour" magazine, right here.
Woman of the Year.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Not bad.
-You know, my daughter was on that shoot,
and every time we did a different wardrobe change,
she would say, "That doesn't work, Mommy."
-Really? "That doesn't work"?
-"No, you need different earrings, Mommy."
-Oh, no. How old is your daughter?
-She's 8. -Oh.
-8 going on 31.
-And is that why you ended up writing a children's book?
-Well, I did -- I did write it for her,
'cause, you know, I have a forward to her, too.
But this was a book -- "Corduroy" was the books
that I read when I was 5. -Yeah.
-I would go to the library 'cause the head librarian
would save half her lunch for me.
So, I'd go there every single day and wait there like a dog.
Wait for that half of tuna fish sandwich and Oreo cookies.
-Is that right? -Yeah.
-Your librarian would do that? -But I loved "Corduroy,"
so I did the book.
-I read "Corduroy."
I have two little girls now. But I read "Corduroy."
And I love -- -You read it for pleasure?
-Yeah, I don't read it to the children, I read it for me.
I'm halfway through -- I'm halfway through "Corduroy."
No spoilers. I'm halfway through my "Corduroy."
Yeah, don't tell me what happens.
This is so perfect and so cute.
Basically, the little girl takes Corduroy to a play.
-Uh-huh. He gets lost in the theater.
-But then he tries to crawl his way up to the stage.
It's so cute. -Uh-huh.
-Then he ends up being onstage.
-Listen, perfect.
And I like that Lisa is a little black girl, like my daughter.
-Yeah. -So it was cute.
-It was very cute. Yeah. I loved it.
[ Applause ]
I'm going to read this to my daughter,
so thank you for coming up with this.
Let's talk about "Widows," because holy moly,
that was awesome, dude.
Yeah, I mean, totally different thing.
This is not for kids. This is not --
Don't bring your kids. This one -- No, no, no, no.
This is action-packed. -Violence.
-Thriller. Violent. It's exciting. It's explosions.
Steve McQueen directed this? -Steve McQueen.
It's completely female-driven in the best way --
Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki,
Cynthia Erivo.
You know, Liam Neeson plays my husband.
-Yeah, I mean, come on.
-You know? -It starts right off,
you and Liam just kick it off with a little love and romance.
And all of a sudden... [ Imitates gunfire ]
And I'm like --
And my heart was pounding the whole rest of the movie.
-Absolutely. -Just unbelievable.
-You know, during the shooting of the film,
we had a makeup artist who was -- you know, had a swami,
she had a third eye,
and she decided to do a cleanse with the whole crew --
a cleanse where we have to meditate every day
and do other stuff.
And we couldn't eat.
Well, we could eat, but we couldn't chew,
and we couldn't suck,
so we had to sip all of our food
because sucking and chewing was an act of aggression.
And it was about completing everything,
living in forgiveness.
And I was like, "Isn't this awesome?
I want that. I want to release my anger."
My husband was like, "Why the hell
would you want to do something like that, V?
I ain't never seen you miss a meal.
I don't know how the hell you're going to do something like that."
I said, "Julius, this is going to be a game-changer for me."
-Yeah. -You know?
We had to do it for 28 days.
I lasted for two days.
[ Laughter ]
I was in that --
-So mad?
-Let me tell you something,
I was in the damn Jacuzzi one day,
and my niece called, she pissed me off so damn bad.
I was like, "Why the hell are you doing that?"
"Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah."
Went upstairs, ate a hamburger.
Went to the drive-thru at McDonald's.
-Yeah. -Couldn't drink alcohol.
Had, like, a big thing of vodka with soda water and lemon.
-Oh, my God. You went on a bender.
-The next day, Kalaadevi was like,
"Now, Viola, how is it all going?"
I said, "Kalaadevi, I don't have time for this."
I need my anger. I got a chip on my shoulder.
I've always had a chip on my shoulder, and it works for me
because if I don't let this stuff out,
I'm going to blow up." -Exactly.
That's what I'm talking about. You're right.
[ Cheers and applause ]
You make it work other ways to get it out.
You are so good in this, as I say, always,
but I love the idea.
The premise of this -- your husband, Liam Neeson,
is a thief,
and they make some robberies, some heists,
and they get busted, and everyone dies.
I can say that, right?
Yeah, it's called "Widows."
-You're trying to mess up the movie.
I want people to go see the movie.
-No, it's called "Widows."
I mean, what are you talking about?
Hello? -You can't say anything.
-I can say that. -Okay, go ahead.
-I won't say what happens at the end.
I'll change it. Ready? -Okay. Go ahead.
-You and -- There's a tiny bear,
and you go to --
[ Laughter ]
Wait, let me see if I can explain the movie,
because I don't want to give too much away.
Your husband, Liam Neeson, is a -- he's a thief,
and he has this big heist, and something happens.
-The heist goes wrong. -Heist goes wrong.
-We're left widowed.
[ Laughter ]
♪♪
-Talking about?
That's what I'm saying!
That's just what I'm saying.
We can't give away the whole -- the thing.
-It's called "Widows." -I know!
-They know we're going to be widowed.
[ Laughter ]
-Give me a burger and a vodka.
Right now!
-But, no, it's like we got to pick up the pieces,
so it's about women getting the job done.
It's about us taking ownership of our lives.
-And you get in there,
and you team up with all these other widows.
-Ab-- Yeah.
[ Laughter ]
-I can't say that, though? -No, you can say it.
I just feel like you're going to mess something up.
Like, you're going to say something
and you're going to mess it up.
-That's all I'm saying.
-But it's a movie about so much more than that.
But you got to see it.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Best experience of my life, by the way.
Steve McQueen has got to be one of the greatest directors
out there in every single way.
-Really? -He's the best director.
I mean, especially for a woman.
He gives you permission to just be you.
-It was great.
Everyone crushed it in this movie.
And I had no idea what was going to happen,
every twist, every turn. -Yeah.
-It was just awesome. It's action-packed.
Go see it. You're going to freak out.
This weekend -- "Widows."
Here's Viola Davis in "Widows." Take a look.
-Harry left me the plans for his next job.
It's worth $5 million.
I take $2 million, give it to the men, and we split the rest.
-You want us to -- -Pull off the job, yeah.
A million apiece.
-A million?
-Maybe you have a secret plan or a special skill
that can make you that kind of money,
but if you don't, there's an address in the pads of money
that I just gave you.
Meet me there tomorrow at 11:15.
-What if we say no?
-She'll give them our names.
-11:15 A.M.?
-P.M. -It's not easy. I have kids.
-I don't want any trouble.
-Listen, our lives are in danger.
Our husbands aren't coming back.
We're on our own.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-Viola Davis, everybody!