The EGOT winner says a rare repeat bout with shingles forced her to rethink what strength really looks like

Viola Davis has built a career playing women who refuse to break. Offscreen, the EGOT winner recently found herself in a fight she never saw coming, and one that she says nearly knocked her flat.

In a new interview with Parade published Thursday, Oct. 8, the 61-year-old actor spoke publicly for the first time about her experience with shingles, a viral illness she has battled not once but twice. A repeat case is considered unusual, and Davis said she is sharing her story in hopes that others will recognize the warning signs sooner than she did.

A Rash That Refused to Stay Gone

The trouble began with a blistering rash that spread across her stomach and wrapped around to her back. It faded, only to return later on her upper back. When she finally saw a doctor, the diagnosis was confirmed.

Davis admitted she knew absolutely nothing about the condition at the time, a gap in awareness she now believes many people share. That blind spot is part of what drew her to partner with GSK’s Shingles, actually campaign, an effort to educate the public about the disease.

The physical toll was immediate and frightening. Davis said the ordeal terrified her. Simple routines like getting dressed or climbing out of bed became a struggle, and a crushing exhaustion settled over her.

Why Shingles Hits Harder After 50

The Fences star pointed to a reality many people overlook: The immune system naturally weakens with age. That decline leaves adults over 50 more vulnerable to shingles and at greater risk of developing it.

She described the pain in stark terms, ranking it around a nine on a ten-point scale. Because it is nerve pain, she said, it becomes nearly impossible to focus on anything else.

According to the Mayo Clinic, shingles is a viral infection that produces a painful rash, which can appear anywhere on the body and linger for weeks. It stems from the same virus responsible for chickenpox. Anyone who had the common childhood illness still carries the virus, since it never fully leaves the body after recovery. Instead, it can lie dormant for years before reawakening as shingles. Beyond the rash, symptoms may also include fatigue, headaches, fever and chills.

Running on Empty

Looking back, Davis said the illness struck during an especially hectic stretch of her life. She was juggling a demanding acting career alongside motherhood and admitted she was running on stress and very little else. By her own account, she was thoroughly worn down.

The star of The Help said that period reshaped how she treats her body. Today, she describes her approach to self-care as nothing short of radical.

Inside Davis’ Nightly Wellness Rituals

Davis has essentially turned her home into a private wellness retreat. Her arsenal includes a cell mat, a vagus nerve stimulator and a heated eye mask she wears at night. She relies on Epsom salt bath bombs, unwinds in an infrared sauna and a jacuzzi, and even spritzes her pillow with lavender before bed.

One ritual stands above the rest. Every night, Davis and her husband soak in the tub together, a quiet tradition she considers a gift the couple gives themselves.

Strength Without the Burnout

Davis’ broader message is aimed squarely at women who tend to put themselves last. She urged them to carve out deliberate time for their own care, framing it as the fuel that powers them through life’s battles.

The biggest lesson from her ordeal, she said, was realizing that strength does not require running yourself into the ground. She no longer believes she has to operate on fumes to prove her toughness, and she hopes others will reach that same conclusion before their bodies force the issue.

Her advice is straightforward. Ask for help when you need it. See a doctor, ask questions and keep pressing for answers. And if the care you receive falls short, push harder. Patients, Davis said, have every right to demand clear answers from their physicians, because they are worth the fight.