Television

Making The Case For Annalise Keating As An Important Fictional Lawyer

Analyzing the cultural context of How To Get Away With Murder's Annalise Keating.

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There were lot of things that people did not allow me to be until I got [the role of] Annalise Keating. I was not able to be sexualized. Ever. In my entire career. And here’s the thing that’s even more potent: I’ve never seen anyone who even looks like me be sexualized on television or in film. Ever. When people say they’re tired of hearing that, I always say, ‘Okay, well, you give me an example and then I’ll stop talking about it. But I’m gonna talk about it until you hear it.’

— Viola Davis in a recent interview, detailing some the the prejudice she’s endured as a dark-skinned black woman in Hollywood. She’s using the role in How To Get Away With Murder to challenge stereotypes long held about black women.

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