Cannes Women In Motion Award goes to legendary actress Viola Davis

Veteran Hollywood actress Viola Davis will be honoured with the Women in Motion Award at the Cannes Film Festival. She is most popular for playing lawyer Annalise Keating in the TV drama 'How to Get Away with Murder'.

The Kering Group and the Cannes Film Festival said in a statement that Davis is one of the most influential American actresses and producers of her time. She was praised for her acting roles and her commitment to the rights of women and minorities.

The statement further said Her talent, hard work, choice of roles, and the way she interprets them have earned her the very highest recognition in the film industry. Women in Motion was founded in 2015 to showcase women's contributions to the world of cinema. It is a platform of choice to fight inequality between women and men in the field of arts and culture.

Viola Davis is currently playing Michelle Obama in 'The First Lady' and was recently in the spotlight for her autobiography 'Finding Me'. She wrote the book during the lockdown and shed light on the underprivileged environment in Saint Matthews, S.C. 'Finding Me' has become a bestseller for highlighting the harassment and abuse faced by the disadvantaged people.

The statement from Kering, a French Luxury goods company and sponsor of the award, noted that Viola Davis is one of the few people in Hollywood to have won two Tony Awards, an Oscar, and an Emmy, a combination popularly known as 'the Triple Crown of Acting'. She has also won a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and four SAG Awards.

The award was presented to Davis on May 22 during the official Women In Motion dinner by Francois-Henri Pinault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kering; Pierre Lescure, President of the Festival de Cannes; and Thierry Fremaux, Executive Director of the Festival de Cannes.