Viola Davis Shares Look at Intense Training for New Movie ‘The Woman King’
Viola Davis is ready to battle in her upcoming movie, The Woman King, and she's revealing some of her training for the action-packed role.
The actor, who plays General Nanisca in the new film, shared a video of her gym regiment on Instagram, tagging her trainer, Gabriela Mclain, with plenty of praise and thanks for her hard work.
The video shows Davis performing lifting exercises with pulleys and bar weights, with her arm muscle definition on full display.
The caption reads, "Thank you to my incredible trainer, @gabrielamclain for preparing my body for #TheWomanKing! I can't wait for y'all to see in theaters on September 16! ?? Agojie... ????????????????? @womankingmovie."
The official Instagram account for The Woman King commented in support, "That’s our Woman King. That’s our inspiration. ??????."
Many celebrities, friends, and fans also shared their support, with No Time to Die star Lashana Lynch, who is also part of the cast of The Woman King, writing, "Playing ???? No ???? Gamessss!!!!"
Davis revealed in an interview with Vanity Fair that training started a few months before production and included "four hours a day, five days a week. Weight training, sprinting, martial arts, and weaponry training for the machete."
The new role of General Nanisca has Davis stepping into the shoes of a little-known, yet extremely heroic and accomplished historical figure who led the Dahomey Amazons all-female military regime.
The Washington Post highlighted a project led by historians at the African School of Economics who are trying to find descendants of the Amazons.
Not much is known about their history, though historians believe that the Dahomey Amazons likely originated with Queen Hangbè of the early 1700s, who was protected by a group of female bodyguards.
Also known as the Agojie, Nanisca and her fellow warriors were the inspiration for Black Panther's Dora Milaje.
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Woman King also stars Jayme Lawson, Sheila Atim, Jordan Bolger, John Boyega, and many more. It comes out in theaters on Sept. 16.
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