When Viola Davis makes her way to the red carpet, you know all eyes are going to be on her. Davis has always been fabulous, but for the past few years, her red carpet looks have been next level. It’s clear the How to Get Away with Murder star has always had an affinity for the vibrant outfits that designers create.

It’s rare to see Davis not looking like a confident superstar, rocking a colorful dress or pantsuit at a premiere or award ceremony. But Davis doesn’t want you to only call her “pretty” or “beautiful” when you see her, telling InStyle, “We need to stop that with girls. We need to stop saying that all of their value is in the way they look, and whether they’re pretty or not,” she adds. “I hate it when people say things like, ‘She has a lot going for her because she’s beautiful.’ But what else is she?

The Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom star added, “Because by the time she’s 65 and doesn’t have that tight rear end anymore, then you’re saying she has no value? That needs to stop. It’s the most detrimental thing to suggest that’s the only value you have.”

Davis is all about feeling confident in your own skin, and in the same interview, she said, “My go-to saying is that a privilege of a lifetime is being who you are, and I would tell my younger self exactly that—you are absolutely perfect the way you are.”

To honor Davis and her incredibly bold fashion, let’s take a look back at her fashion evolution over the years.

A version of this article was originally published in Feb. 2017.

Not sure what we love more: Viola Davis’ incredible Valentino look of a one-shoulder dress and a feathered coat or her blissful smile that shows she knows exactly how stunning she looks.

For the 2023 Met Gala, Viola Davis wowed everyone in this feathered Barbiecore custom Valentino gown.

For the 2023 Chaplin Awards, Viola Davis mixed up her red carpet fashion in a truly divine way. Instead of rocking her usual vibrant colored dresses, she opted for her darker color palette from years ago, but added a fun, colorful fringe that really made this Jason Wu look wow everyone.

Viola Davis rocked her go-to golden shade when she stepped out at the 2023 SAG Awards in this vibrant Valentino gown.

At the 2023 NAACP Image Awards, Viola Davis kept the purple motif going with this stunning custom halter Christian Dior dress, which she paired with a black Rodo clutch and silver DeBeers jewelry.

For the 2023 BAFTAs, Viola Davis looked absolutely breathtaking in this sparkling, caped purple gown that screams 1930s vibes.

At the AFI Awards Luncheon in 2023, Viola Davis decided to show some leg in this vibrant, baby blue look from Lafayette, which she paired with a chic bob and pointed white heels.

For the 2023 Golden Globes, Viola Davis stole the show in this incredibly vibrant royal blue Jason Wu gown!

For the premiere of The Woman King at the 2022 TIFF, Viola Davis wowed in a vibrant colorblock gown from Greta Constantine

At the 2022 Paramount+ UK Launch party, Viola Davis turned heads in this gorgeous all-white Maison Valentino pantsuit that she paired with silver pumps from Loriblu.

Viola Davis attended the annual Kering “Women in Motion” awards at Cannes, France, in an all neon green pantsuit from Alexander McQueen that definitely stole the show.

For the photocall of the Kering “Women in Motion” awards, Viola Davis wowed in a vibrant all-red custom pantsuit from Alexander McQueen.

All eyes were on Viola Davis when she arrived in this custom yellow Alexander McQueen ballgown at the 75th Cannes Film Festival.

Viola Davis won the esteemed CinemaCon Trailblazer of the Year Award during CinemaCon, looking gorgeous in a hot pink pantsuit.

Viola Davis stunned in a white custom-made Alexander McQueen gown and Forevermark jewelry at the 93rd Annual Academy Awards, where she’s nominated for Best Actress for her role as Ma Rainey in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

One of her most iconic looks to date, Davis’ one-shoulder, black velvet and white satin Alberta Ferreti dress made instant fashion history.

Two years after her Fences win, Davis returned to the Oscars in a swoonworthy hot pink Michael Kors dress with hubby Julius Tennon by her side.

She won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role this night.

We still can’t get over how amazing this dress is.

Davis won her first Golden Globe this year for Fences.

This sky-blue sequined number is like a dream on Davis.

At the premiere for Suicide Squad.

Ah, there’s the pink again! Love it.

She took home a statue for HTGAWM this year, too.

This gown was a totally different look from what we’re used to seeing Davis in, but we still love it.

This look is totally regal.

The year she took home Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for HTGAWM.

Is there a color this woman can’t wear perfectly?

Total old-school glamour at the ’14 Academy Awards.

At the premiere for Won’t Back Down.

And again at the Screen Actors Guild Awards the following year.

Davis dazzled in jewel tones at the 2012 Academy Awards.

Showin’ a little leg at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards.

At the premiere for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

Exhibit B.

Strapless dresses showcase Davis’ toned arms.

Then again, purple silk certainly suits her as well.

But chartreuse might be her color.

What can we say? The woman looks good in red.

In ’11, Davis was nominated for Best Actress in a Drama for The Help.

Loving her short cut at the premiere of Law Abiding Citizen.

Doubt also got her an Oscars nod.

She was also up for Best Supporting Actress for Doubt at the SAG Awards that year.

Davis was nominated Best Supporting Actress for Doubt at the ’09 awards.

At the Nights in Rodanthe premiere.

At the Nights in Rodanthe premiere.

She somehow made bubblegum pink look sophisticated at the Disturbia premiere in Los Angeles.

Davis was totally on trend for the early ’00s at the Get Rich or Die Tryin’ premiere.