Viola Davis has never been one to back down. She made it clear about equal pay: you pay me what I’m worth during a candid chat with Tina Brown at the Women in the World salon; the Oscar, Emmy and Tony winning powerhouse didn’t hold back. She spread the hard truth about the pay gap in Hollywood, especially for women of color. And she didn’t mince words.

“We’re not going to talk about gender pay inequality,” Davis said. “Because … what (some women) get paid, which is half of what a man gets paid … well, we get probably a tenth of what a Caucasian woman gets.” Yes, she said a tenth. And mind you, this is coming from a star who is often top-billed. Despite her decades of experience from film, TV and theater, she still had to fight hard.

Davis shared that even with a resume that includes Fences and How to Get Away with Murder, her path hasn’t mirrored icons like Meryl Streep or Julianne Moore. “I’m nowhere near them … not as far as money or job opportunities,” she admitted. “And yet I have to call that phone all the time.” Imagine being an acting legend and still having to pick up the phone to fight for fair treatment.

Viola Davis? Yes, she has been calling out Hollywood’s BS for years. Take 2015 Emmyswhen she made history as the first black woman to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama for How to Get Away with Murder. That speech? Straight fire. Quoting Harriet Tubman, she dropped truth bombs: “The only thing that separates women of color from everybody else is opportunity. You can’t win an Emmy for roles just because you’re not there.” Mick let go.

Even with an Oscar for the fences, shiny trophies don’t fool Davis. She made it clear: winning awards does not mean equal opportunity. “You give me what I’m worth,” she told Brown — her rallying cry.

Hollywood is moving, but Davis’ story shows that the road to true equality is still long. She constantly pushes the boundaries, whether she’s standing up for fair wages or advocating for others. And frankly, she deserves every cent — and then some.

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