Viola Davis Recalls ‘Debilitating’ Shingles Battle That Changed How She Cares for Her Body

Viola Davis has opened up about her painful battle with shingles years ago, describing it as an “unusual case” and revealing how the experience changed the way she takes care of her body.

The actress, 61, told People on Thursday, October 8, that she was juggling motherhood and a demanding career when she first developed the viral condition.

“I was a new mom. I had just adopted my daughter [Genesis]. I was riding off of my Oscar nomination after The Help. So I was working, working, working, running myself into the ground,” she recalled.

“And then all of a sudden, I woke up with flu-like symptoms and an extraordinarily painful rash. I mean, I would put it at a nine out of 10.”

The How to Get Away with Murder star said the rash began on her stomach before wrapping around her back.

“It went away and then it came back with three blisters on my upper back,” she explained. “I was surprised how much pain it was. Hard to lay down, hard to get up, hard to walk. Nerve pain, all of that.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, shingles is caused by the same virus responsible for chickenpox, which can remain dormant in the body before reactivating years later. Although shingles is not typically life-threatening, it can cause severe pain and complications, with the risk increasing after age 50.

Davis described her diagnosis as “the surprise of my life,” admitting she previously “knew nothing about shingles.”

The experience also made her reconsider how much she had been neglecting her own health while prioritizing everyone around her.

“I was there for my daughter. I was there for my husband, there for my employees, and I sort of put all of them on a level of importance higher than myself, you know?” she explained. “And I felt that that’s what defined me as a powerful modern day woman, that I could sort of sacrifice my life for others. And that’s not the case for me anymore.”

The Oscar winner said the illness was particularly surprising because she had been exercising, eating well and believed she “was healthy because I did all the right things.”

However, she acknowledged that she had previously viewed slowing down as a sign of weakness.

“I felt like listening to your body was a weakness. It was gonna stop you. It was like a speed bump, and I needed to keep my speed going,” she said. “But you gotta feel like you are important enough, that life is not supposed to be lived with anything that causes you debilitating pain. You gotta go to your doctor. You gotta go to your healthcare provider.”

Davis, who has experienced shingles more than once, is now partnering with pharmaceutical company GSK as a spokesperson for its “Shingles, Actually” campaign, which encourages adults 50 and older to learn about their risk and speak with healthcare providers about prevention.

“I feel like I’m important enough and my body is important enough to listen to it and to honor it,” she said. “I found that that is the key to aging beautifully.”