Emmy-Winner Viola Davis Describes Herself As Sexual Assault Survivor At Benefit To Help Children
BEVERLY HILLS (CBSLA.com/AP) — Viola Davis has seen the effects of sexual assault first hand.
She says her sister was sexually assaulted at age 8 and is now a heroin addict and prostitute.
Davis also described her mother and herself as survivors of sexual assault Sunday at a benefit for the Rape Foundation.
The group provides free medical treatment, counseling and legal aid to rape victims plus special services for children.
Davis -- acclaimed in just about anything she's ever touched (see the impressive list) -- has been an advocate for the organization since playing its founder in a 2010 film.
The actress was among the guests of honor at the organization's annual fundraising brunch.
The event was held at billionaire Ron Burkle's Greenacres estate in Beverly Hills.
Davis currently stars in "How to Get Away With Murder" on ABC. She was Oscar-nominated for roles in "The Help" and "Doubt." Her other big and small screen roles include "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Blackhat," "Third Watch," "Suicide Squad," and "Eat Pray Love."
She won the Tony as best featured actress in a play for "King Hedley II" in in 2001. In 2010, Davis won the best actress Tony for a revival of "Fences." She was also nominated for a Tony for her work in the play "Seven Guitars" in 1996.
In addition she's won or been nominated for a room-filled of Obies, Drama Desk awards, People's Choice Awards, SAG Awards, National Board of Review, NAACP Image Awards and Critic's Choice selections.
In 2012, Time Magazine listed her as one of the "100 Most Influential People In the World."
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
