Actress Viola Davis has been named the Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award recipient for the year 2025 for her extraordinary contributions to the entertainment industry, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced on Wednesday. The award will be presented during the Golden Globes ceremony on January 5, 2025.

“Honouring her powerful storytelling and inspiring legacy, she has delivered performances that will resonate for generations. We are thrilled to share that @violadavis will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award ✨🎬,” the official handle of the Golden Globes Awards posted on X.

Davis, a seven-time Golden Globes nominee, previously won an award for best supporting actress for her role in Fences, the critically acclaimed film adaptation of August Wilson’s play. Davis also earned an Academy Award for her powerful portrayal in the film, directed by and co-starring fellow Cecil B. DeMille awardee Denzel Washington.

“Viola Davis is a luminary whose profound talent has continuously shifted the lens through which we see and understand film,” said Golden Globes president Helen Hoehne in a statement to the American media. “Presenting her with the 2025 Cecil B. DeMille Award is not only an honour but a reflection of our admiration for her relentless dedication to her craft and her monumental impact on the industry. Viola’s courage in portraying complex, powerful characters has broken barriers and paved new paths, making her an emblem of excellence and an ideal recipient of this prestigious award.”

Established in 1952 and named after legendary director Cecil B. DeMille, the award has been given to 69 of Hollywood’s most iconic talents, including Walt Disney, Sidney Poitier, Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand, Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey.

The Golden Globes nominations will be announced on December 9, 2024.