Viola Davis Celebrated Her 55th Birthday with an Inspiring Message About Owning Her Story

Rachel Murray/Getty Viola Davis

Viola Davis is owning her story.

The Oscar-winning actress turned 55 on Tuesday and shared an inspiring message on social media about owning her own story by reflecting on where she came from.

Posting on Instagram, Davis shared an image of a St. Matthews plantation where she was born in South Carolina, and wrote, "The above is the house where I was born August 11, 1965. It is the birthplace of my story. Today on my 55th year of life....I own it....all of it."

While many assumed that Davis had purchased the home that she grew up in, the Fences actress clarified in the comments, "I do not 'own' above house, I 'own' my STORY!! Too abstract I guess."

Davis also added a Cherokee Birth Blessing that read, "May you live long enough to know why you were born," at the end of the caption.

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Underneath Davis' powerful Instagram message, an array of her famous friends used the comments section of the post to send some kind wishes her way.

Taraji P. Henson commented, "THANK GOD FOR THIS DAY!!!! Happy birthday beautiful Queen!!! 🙏🏾💋💋💋," as Halle Berry wrote, "happy birthday sweet friend! may your life continue to inspire and your light continue to shine ✨

Octavia Spencer added, "Happy birthday, Vee!," while Michelle Pfeiffer simply shared five red heart emojis.

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Davis' How to Get Away with Murder costars sent the actress some birthday love as well, with Karla Souza writing, "Happy birthday! ❤️❤️❤️" as Aja Naomi King replied, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY V...love all of you! ❤️❤️❤️."

Tina Knowles-Lawson, Shonda Rhimes, Reese Witherspoon, Gabrielle Union, Natalie Portman, and Courteney Cox are among other stars who also shared some birthday messages with Davis.

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Later on Tuesday, Davis continued to celebrate her birthday while also reacting to the news that Kamala Harris was chosen by former Vice President Joe Biden to be his running mate in the upcoming 2020 presidential election.

Sharing a video of Harris, 55, dancing, Davis captioned the post, "Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me!! Happy birthday dear Viola!!! I am strapped up!!!" before she added a #VOTE hashtag beside a slew of heart and fist-pumping emojis.

Harris is the first Black woman and first Indian-American on either major party's presidential ticket and she is the fourth woman on a major presidential ticket after Democratic vice presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin in 2008 and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016.