Viola Davis Insists on 'Big Gut' for Love Scenes, Labels Filming a 'Nightmare'
Acclaimed actor Viola Davis has made a bold declaration about her future in on-screen romance, stating she will only participate in love scenes if her partner possesses a 'big gut'. The 60-year-old star expressed her strong aversion to filming and watching sex scenes during a recent podcast appearance, arguing that this unconventional condition would enhance the plot's depth and authenticity.
Podcast Revelation and Filming Frustrations
During Tuesday's episode of Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast, Davis candidly shared her distaste for the typical Hollywood love scene. She revealed that after concluding her role in the hit ABC drama How to Get Away with Murder in 2020, she established a firm rule: 'I'm not doing any more love scenes. That's it. You write a love scene, I'm not doing it,' she asserted. Her sole exception? 'Unless you give me a boyfriend who has a stomach. A big gut.'
Davis elaborated on her reasoning, suggesting that a partner with a larger physique would force writers to focus on substance over superficiality. 'And you know why? Because you'll actually write the scene. It won't be about taking off the shirt and the six-pack abs,' she explained. This stance stems from her frustrating experiences on set, which she vividly recounted.
Recalling a 'Freaking Nightmare' Scene
The Oscar-winning actor recalled a particularly awkward scene filmed with Billy Brown for How to Get Away with Murder, where her character, Annalise Keating, was known for her numerous romantic encounters. Davis described the technical and artificial nature of the filming process. 'I'm lying down and everything, and then he gets up with his underwear, and they're literally just taking his underwear down, putting his makeup on,' she said, referring to the crew's interventions. 'And he's got his abs. And then they want him to walk into the bathroom and come out with one of those scrub brushes and slap it on his hand as if he's slapping my ass.'
She did not mince words about the experience, labeling it 'a freaking nightmare.' Davis proposed that casting a partner with a gut could lead to more organic storytelling. 'So I said, 'If you write someone with a gut, maybe we won't be in bed. Maybe it'll be about everything else. And then when we finally kiss, it's like something that's organically happening,' she continued, highlighting her desire for realism and narrative depth.
Personal Views and Past Rules
Davis, who has been married to actor Julius Tennon since 2003, also joked about her general discomfort with love scenes as a viewer. 'But right now, for me, a lot of love scenes, it's like, that's the time to go to the bathroom,' the Fences star concluded, underscoring her preference for meaningful content over gratuitous displays.
This is not the first time Davis has set boundaries for intimate scenes. Back in 2016, during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she shared additional rules established during her time on How to Get Away with Murder. She insisted on no more being 'thrown up against the wall' after an incident in the first season left her with back and hip injuries, causing her to limp for two weeks. 'So I said, 'No more walls,'' she explained firmly.
Her requirements extended to positioning and movement, as she stated, 'I just said, 'I want to be on the bed. I don't want to move. I don't want anyone on top of me. I don't want to be on top of anybody else.'' These rules reflect her commitment to both her physical well-being and her artistic integrity, challenging industry norms around on-screen intimacy.
