Viola Davis says being the favourite to win an Oscar and then losing is "devastating".
The 51-year-old actress is the odds on favourite to take home the gong for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Rose Lee Maxson in ‘Fences’, but isn’t getting her hopes up as she says she’s been in this position before, and says the pressure of thinking she’s going to win "makes it worse" when someone else’s name is called.
Speaking during an appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on Thursday (16.02.17), Viola said: "You know, I’ve been the odds on favourite to win before, and not. And it’s devastating. It makes it worse.
"You’re sitting there and you’re like, ‘I’m the odds on favourite, okay’ and then your name is not called, it’s like falling from a 100 storey building.
"As opposed to if you know you’re losing, it’s like falling from a one storey building."
Meanwhile, Viola admitted she’s "always surprised" to be invited to award ceremonies at all.
The ‘Suicide Squad’ star – who recently picked up a Golden Globe and a BAFTA both for Best Supporting Actress for ‘Fences’ – said recently: "I’m the girl on the carpet that’s tense. [I’m] with the good looking husband. I’m great … I always feel when I come to London, though, that I feel like I’ve been invited to the best party. I’m always surprised when I’m invited to this party. This is something I never thought I would be invited to and I am."
And the actress hasn’t been able to ask her ‘Fences’ co-star Denzel Washington – who also directed the drama – for advice as he always takes a very chilled approach to these events.
She added: "Denzel never has any messages. He’ll just say, ‘Where are you going?’ And I’ll say, ‘I’m going to the BAFTAs,’ and he’ll say, ‘Have fun!’ "
Viola Davis says it’s hard being an Oscars favourite
