‘How To Get Away With Murder’: Viola Davis On Sex Scenes & Removing The Wig

Viola Davis is heating up the small screen as illustrious defense attorney Annalise Keating on ABC’s “How To Get Away with Murder,” with multiple steamy sex scenes in the show’s first seven episodes.

Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson visited the “HTGAWM” set, where Viola opened up about what’s ahead for Annalise’s love life.

(Hint: Annalise’s sex life is full steam ahead!)

“Get ready!” Viola told Shaun, when asked about Annalise “getting it on.”

The Academy Award-nominated actress said there’s one “HTGAWM” fan she has to pre-warn about upcoming sex scenes – her mom.

“I’ve gotta tell my mother beforehand so she has time to leave the house for about 3 or 4 minutes,” Viola said. “Because otherwise, I’m gonna be afraid to go back home to Rhode Island for the holidays!”

While the show’s many sex scenes (Annalise is definitely not the only character with an active love life!) are generating buzz, one of the series’ most talked about moments to date was inspired by a conversation between Viola and executive producer Shonda Rhimes.

“The conversation was, ‘Shonda, I want to take my wig off,'” Viola said, referencing a recent scene where Annalise removes her wig and all of her makeup on camera before confronting her husband about his infidelities. “You know, I said, ‘I do not want a scene where I’m going to bed at night with my wig on’ – we don’t [do that].

“That scene was two-fold,” she continued. “That scene was watching a woman prepare to go to bed at night, really watching it. I thought that that would be powerful, but I also thought that it would be powerful watching someone taking off a mask.”

Viola received support from two other well-known African-American actresses after that scene aired.

“[I heard from] Halle Berry and [‘Sleepy Hollow’ star] Nicole Beharie,” she revealed. “Halle Berry just said, ‘Girl, I had to send you an e-mail, you’re doing such a great job, I celebrate you.’ She’s always like that by the way. She’s very very, very supportive.”

“How To Get Away with Murder” airs Thursdays at 10 PM on ABC.

— Erin O’Sullivan