Viola Davis Says Her Mother 'Taught Me the Deepest, Most Profound Way to Love' on Her 83rd Birthday
Viola Davis Says Her Mother 'Taught Me the Deepest, Most Profound Way to Love' on Her 83rd Birthday
Tommy McArdleTue, May 5, 2026 at 6:26 PM UTC
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Viola Davis on March 1, 2026; and Mae Alice Davis on May 4, 2026Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty; Viola Davis/Instagram -
Viola Davis celebrated mom Mae Alice Davis' 83rd birthday on Instagram Monday, May 4
Davis' mother raised her in poverty in Rhode Island and suffered physical abuse from her husband, Dan, who died in 2006
"You've taught me the deepest, most profound way to love," the actress wrote of her mother on Instagram
Viola Davis is celebrating her mother Mae Alice Davis as she turns 83.
Davis, 60, shared a photo of her mother with a smile on her face to Instagram on Monday, May 4. "Happy 83rd year of LIFE, Mommy!! You've taught me the deepest, most profound way to love... to live... to let go... to be grateful," the Oscar-winning actress wrote in the caption of her post. "This smile lets me know that memory may have taken you, but you're still in there... in the weeds. I love you deep, Mommy!! Happiest of birthdays ❤️❤️❤️❤️"
Rachel Zegler, Uzo Aduba, Mary Steenburgen and Joely Richardson were among Davis' famous friends and past costars who shared comments on her post to wish Mae Alice a happy birthday as well.
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The Guardian reported in 2022 that Davis grew up in a condemned building in Central Falls, R.I., in a piece about Davis' memoir, Finding Me. The outlet described Mae Alice as "a maid and factory worker" who once actively participated in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Davis candidly wrote in her memoir that her father, Dan, physically abused Mae Alice and their children; the actress is one of six siblings. (Dan died of pancreatic cancer in 2006.)
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Davis tends to share photos of her mother every year on May 4 in recognition of Mae Alice's birthday. Last year, she posted photos of Mae Alice wearing a T-shirt with her own likeness on it that read, "Queens are born in May," and a heart-shaped birthday cake that read, "That girl since '43."
In 2023, Davis shared photos of Mae Alice wearing a crown on her head for her milestone 80th birthday — as well as another picture in which the Davis family matriarch wore a baseball cap that read, "F--- off, respectfully." "May 4th,1943 my beautiful mommy was born. Mae Alice you are the light and joy of my LIFE!!!!" Davis wrote at that time. "Happy 80th!! You've earned that hat. 🥳❤❤❤👑"
The actress also shared a sweet photo of herself and her mother together in 2022; she also offered comfort to others whose mothers have died in the caption to that Instagram post. "To those who've lost a mom, I am sending you a virtual motherly hug....and comfort," Davis wrote. "To those who nurture, pour into, sacrifice, serve, mentor and love.....Have the happiest Day!! I celebrate you!!!! ❤️❤️❤️"
Viola Davis and her mother, Mae Alice Davis, via Instagram on May 8, 2022Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
When Davis spoke with PEOPLE back in 2022 to promote her memoir, she discussed making peace with her father and said that he "changed" in how he treated Mae Alice in the years before his death.
"My mom said he apologized to her every single day. Every single day, he rubbed her feet. Forgiveness is not pretty," she said at the time. "Sometimes people don't understand that life is not a Thursday night lineup on ABC. It is messy. He did hurt me then, but love and forgiveness can operate on the same plane as anger."
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
