Viola Davis graced the promotional tour of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes with her debut appearance on the red carpet of the Los Angeles premiere on November 13.
The 58-year-old American actress and film producer dazzled in a striking green cape effect dress by Oscar de la Renta, adorned with sequin embellishments that made her shimmer like a star amidst the glamour of the night.
Viola Davis making a shimmering entrance in a green cape effect dress with sequin embellishments from Oscar de la Renta at the premiere of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes held at the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, California, on November 13, 2023 (Credit: Media Punch / INSTARimages)
Styled by Elizabeth Stewart, whose impressive roster includes A-list clients such as Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain, and Amanda Seyfried, Davis paired her vibrant outfit with black Calzedonia tights, gracefully covering her slender legs.
Julius Tennon’s wife completed the ensemble and slipped into a pair of sharp pointed-toe pumps, adding an elegant touch to her petite frame.
Viola Davis and husband Julius Tennon in matching green ensembles at the Los Angeles premiere of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Credit: Media Punch / INSTARimages)
Opting for a minimalist approach, Davis adorned herself with accessories from Tabayer jewels, featuring gold and silver rings and a bracelet.
Makeup artist Sergio López-Rivera gave her a bold touch of black eyeliner and a pink blush. The finishing touches to Davis’ red carpet look were crafted by the talented hands of hairdresser Jamika Wilson, who styled her bob in waves.
Viola Davis’ beauty look consisted of a wavy bob, black eyeliner, a pink blush, and Tabayer jewels (Credit: Media Punch / INSTARimages)
But Viola Davis isn’t just about fashion; she’s ready to embrace her dark side in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame awardee plays the role of Head Gamemaker, Dr. Volumnia Gaul, relishing the opportunity to portray a villain.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the event, she admitted to finding joy in making her co-star, Tom Blyth, “squirm” on set.
“Just seeing how many times you can make someone squirm — like Tom Blyth, oh man it was a joy because he was very receptive to it, so I was just so happy about poking him,” said Davis, 58. “Even in the scene when I had to inject him and give him stitches, I think, loved it.” https://t.co/FqxkllZAAn
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Davis shared in the video posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Just seeing how many times you can make someone squirm — like Tom Blyth, oh man, it was a joy because he was very receptive to it, so I was just so happy about poking him. Even in the scene when I had to inject him and give him stitches, I think, loved it.”
After reading Suzanne Collins’ best-selling book, she was drawn to the Hunger Games franchise, wanting to explore if she could inhabit this world.
She noted, “That’s the thing with actors when you feel like can you do it, can you actually do it? That’s the thing that excites you because it scares you.”
Viola Davis enjoyed every bit of her role as Head Gamemaker Dr. Volumnia Gaul, including making co-star Tom Blyth squirm while filming The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Credit: Media Punch / INSTARimages)
Speaking with PEOPLE at the premiere, Davis expressed that the most enjoyable part of playing a villain is “that I get to show people a different part of myself.”
She explained, “I think that people see me as nurturing and kind, and I’m all those things — I’m shy, I’m introverted — to just get out of my comfort zone; to just be sort of uncomfortably just fun and evil. The scope of it was a joy for me.”
In the upcoming origin story, Davis’ character, the eccentric and ruthless Gamemaker Dr. Volumnia Gaul, devises experiments to amplify the violence in the annual Hunger Games, making it a more intense spectacle for the people of Panem.
Viola Davis as Dr. Volumnia Gaul in the 2023 American dystopian film The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Credit: Lionsgate)