The True Story Behind Viola Davis Character in Ma Rainey s Black Bottom Kayla Keegan
On December 18, Netflix released the new film
Ma Rainey s Black Bottom, a drama adapted from a play of the same name, written by late Pulitzer-winning playwright
August Wilson. Produced by
Viola Davis, the movie centers around real-life blues pioneer
Gertrude Ma Rainey, on the day that she and her band record a song called Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Watching Viola depict Ma, it s clear the Oscar-winning actress did a lot of preparation to portray the powerful, bawdy, and charismatic singer. Although Viola worried she wouldn t be able to sing well enough to play the iconic Mother of Blues, after reading the script she knew she had to get involved.