Viola Davishas a newfound swagger since hitting the gym for her new action movie.The Oscar winner stars inThe Woman King, for which sheunderwent rigorous trainingto portray warriors alongside costars Lashana Lynch, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim and more cast members.At PEOPLE andEntertainment Weekly’s photo and video studio at the 2022Toronto International Film FestivalFriday, Davis, 57, explained how her physical transformation changed how she goes about everyday errands like grocery shopping.“There is something to be said about breaking that barrier of what you feel like you can’t do that then gives you a swagger,” she says. “You begin to sort of feel yourself, and you begin to really appreciate when your body is working for you as a woman, the strength of it.““There are times when I’m now walking in the grocery store,” continues Davis with a laugh, “I walk the parking lot of Vons and I walk in the grocery store like, ‘Yeah, I’m here!’ It gives you, yeah, a huge swagger.“Mike Marsland/WireImageNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.Costar John Boyega, director Gina Prince-Bythewood, producer Cathy Schulman and Davis' husband and producerJulius Tennonalso joined the PEOPLE andEWconversation. Tennon, 68, shared that Davis was competitive about the workouts — and the actress admitted to it.“I’m always competitive with my husband,” she says.Adds Tennon, “I had a friend call and he said, ‘Hey, man, Viola’s lifting a lot of weights — you alright?’ I said, ‘I’m good. I’m hangin’ in there.' It worked out.“Sony PicturesLynch, 34, says she couldn’t compareThe Woman Kingtraining to the prep work she did for her spy role in the recent James Bond filmNo Time to Die. As she puts it, “There’s nothing that would be able to prepare you for this level of training.““It was incredible to be able to just dive in and treat your body to a true experience,” she says.The Woman Kingis in theaters Sept. 16.
Viola Davishas a newfound swagger since hitting the gym for her new action movie.
The Oscar winner stars inThe Woman King, for which sheunderwent rigorous trainingto portray warriors alongside costars Lashana Lynch, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim and more cast members.
At PEOPLE andEntertainment Weekly’s photo and video studio at the 2022Toronto International Film FestivalFriday, Davis, 57, explained how her physical transformation changed how she goes about everyday errands like grocery shopping.
“There is something to be said about breaking that barrier of what you feel like you can’t do that then gives you a swagger,” she says. “You begin to sort of feel yourself, and you begin to really appreciate when your body is working for you as a woman, the strength of it.”
“There are times when I’m now walking in the grocery store,” continues Davis with a laugh, “I walk the parking lot of Vons and I walk in the grocery store like, ‘Yeah, I’m here!’ It gives you, yeah, a huge swagger.”
Mike Marsland/WireImage
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.
Costar John Boyega, director Gina Prince-Bythewood, producer Cathy Schulman and Davis' husband and producerJulius Tennonalso joined the PEOPLE andEWconversation. Tennon, 68, shared that Davis was competitive about the workouts — and the actress admitted to it.
“I’m always competitive with my husband,” she says.
Adds Tennon, “I had a friend call and he said, ‘Hey, man, Viola’s lifting a lot of weights — you alright?’ I said, ‘I’m good. I’m hangin’ in there.' It worked out.”
Sony Pictures
Lynch, 34, says she couldn’t compareThe Woman Kingtraining to the prep work she did for her spy role in the recent James Bond filmNo Time to Die. As she puts it, “There’s nothing that would be able to prepare you for this level of training.”
“It was incredible to be able to just dive in and treat your body to a true experience,” she says.
The Woman Kingis in theaters Sept. 16.
source: people.com
