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People Magazine is celebrating their 50th Anniversary with a special double issue. To me the cover reads like a stab at the Vanity Fair Hollywood issue, with 11 stars — plus an unnamed corgi added “as a nod to PEOPLE’s Royals coverage,” hilarious — across an extended spread. Only instead of gowns and tuxes, the scene is more “we’re rich, successful, and having a drink in Napa!” One of said 11 stars is the glorious Viola Davis, donning a fresh spring green dress. Viola gave a joyous interview, in which she waxed on the kind of radical self love and acceptance she’s working to instill in her 13-year-old daughter Genesis and herself as well.
What are your memories of winning your Oscar?
It was like pulling a rabbit out of the hat. That Viola, you dreamed the biggest dream in your life and you made it happen. And my mom, who’s in memory care now, what I remember with this dress — when I put it on, she cried. I remember her crying because I think she felt the same way that I felt. Little country girl from St. Matthews, South Carolina, that she birthed me and she birthed this.Do you feel the pressure to be perfect in public?
No, I don’t. I go to the supermarket a lot with just a wrap on my head, no makeup. One time I got in the car and I forgot to put shoes on. I had my household slippers on. And I got to the supermarket and I thought, “Should I go back home and put on shoes?” I walked in with my slippers. I need to be me.Your daughter is now a teenager. What lessons are you teaching her right now?
What I tell my daughter right now is, “Genesis, you are the love of your life. You have to start right now to have a radical love affair with yourself, to be in touch with your inner voice, what you like, what you don’t like, what’s crossing the boundaries, and you honor that. And through that, that is the seed where everything grows.” No one ever told me that. No one ever told me that I was the love of my life. I just counted myself out. If I have to be small in order to build up a relationship, I’ll make myself small. If I have to sacrifice my needs for others — that’s a big one for women, we are considered stronger when we sacrifice our needs. I said, “Genesis, no, do not do that. You are the love of your life, you and you alone.”In this next chapter of your life, what do you see for yourself?
Oh, man. I want to become the love of my life. I feel that how you find meaning is you have to completely embrace your story. The number one regret of the dying is that they lived a life that was defined by everyone else and not themselves. [I’m] trying to live my life on my terms — everything. And dare to do that, even if it looks messy on the outside. I want to belong to myself.
Viola has preached this message before, like at last year’s Cannes film festival when she was repping L’Oreal’s “because you’re worth it” campaign and what it meant to her. But the ethos of loving yourself cannot be said enough! It’s no accident that RuPaul ends every episode saying “If you can’t love yourself how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else, can I get an amen?!”
So let’s discuss the obviously controversial part of her comments: wearing house slippers outside!! Look, I don’t begrudge anyone going out and about casually and without makeup. I do it nearly every day. And I adored it when Viola Davis wore silver sneakers with her evening gown to the 2019 Emmys. But the whole point of house slippers is to keep your home floors clean, no? So you’re not spreading the detritus of the outside world all over your house? So to do errands in your slippers… no! The slipper soles must be protected at all costs, kept as clean and smooth as a baby’s bottom. But yeah I do get Viola’s predicament; if I were all the way at the grocery store when I discovered the slipper slip-up, I wouldn’t turn all the way back either. But I’d definitely give them a disinfectant wipe down upon returning home. Or just buy a new pair. Because I’m worth it.
photos credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages and Getty
These are house skippers that she’s wearing outside, so they aren’t purely house slippers. I have house Crocs, LOL. I got tired of my house slippers getting funky and not drying from my wet feet getting out of the shower. I just wear socks and crocs if I feel chilly.
Same, Viola Davis. Same.
🎁
Love her and everything about her, from her incredible talent, to her beauty, to her slipper wearing ways!
Oh Viola and her infectious laughter.
*sigh*
She’s so gorgeous, be it in her silver sneakers, or in heels. The house slippers surely looked good too. As long as she’s comfy!
I had to be in the hospital with my son for 5 days recently, and all I took was tshirts a sweater and a bunch of flannel pajama pants and fuzzy socks and slippers (indoor outdoor slippers)
I was determined to at least be comfortable during that time.
It turned out to be a fantastic stay, the nurses were all 100% fantastic and caring.
The window seat couch expanded to a twin bed, they automatically brought me pillows, sheets and blankets
The food was really good
I had been so stressed before we went about his surgery and the long stay (and long recovery)
That the actual hospital stay was so good we were sorry when it was over.
It was CHLA (Children’s of Los Angeles)
Excellent hospital.
But I walked around in my plaid, polkadot, Scotty dogs, cats, dinosaur, tie dye pajama pants the whole time
I love everything she says here. I wish someone had given me those words of wisdom in my younger years.
I read her autobiography and it’s great even though it’s a very hard read because her childhood was unimaginably rough.