Viola Davis says newly acquired EGOT status has ‘moved me tremendously’

By Mike Bedigan, PA Los Angeles Correspondent

Viola Davis says that her Grammy win and subsequent rise to EGOT status has “moved me tremendously”.

The actress, who earned the coveted title on Sunday, also said on Instagram that her mind had been “blown”.

EGOT status refers to artists who have won all four major US artistic awards; an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.

On Monday, the words “Viola, we love you” were spelled out by a plane over Los Angeles.

Posting a picture of the tribute, Davis wrote: “Thank you @cbstv and @recordingacademy! You all have blown my mind and moved me tremendously.”

She later paid tribute to fellow artist Adrian Hall, founding director of Trinity Repertory Company, after his death at the age of 95 was announced over the weekend.

Davis said she had become a professional actress at the age of 23, after acquiring her Actors Equity Card, due to help from Hall.

“Ironic that he left this earth the same weekend I became an EGOT. We all stand on the shoulders of giants AND on the shoulders of those who believed in us,” she wrote in a separate post.

“Thank you for seeing me Adrian and thank you for your legacy. I receive the baton and will run my leg of the race….Boldly!”

Davis won the Grammy for best audio book, narration and storytelling recording for Finding Me, which was presented at the awards’ premiere ceremony ahead of the main event on Sunday – becoming part of the 18-strong EGOT club.

She has won four primetime Emmys for leading actress, in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019 and won best supporting actress at the Oscars in 2017, for her role in Fences.

The Juilliard School graduate also has three Tony awards.