The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in the Tennon household. After watching Viola Davis do a spectacular job of portraying onscreen characters for years, fans will now get to see her daughter in action. Yes, you read right. Genesis will be starring in her first acting role at just three years old in the upcoming James Brown biopic that her mother is directing. Davis announced her daughter’s debut in film during a talk with Ellen DeGeneres.
“She’s gonna be in the James Brown biopic that I’m doing and (director) Tate Taylor is gonna cast her as one of the kids,” said the actress. “We’ve been rehearsing at home because I don’t want her to be fired.”
Viola discussed Genesis’ passion for film telling Ellen, “Fortunately or unfortunately the acting bug has already bitten her. I said, ‘Genesis so what do you say when you’re on set?’ She said, ‘Roll, tape, action.’ And she’s got her two imaginary friends, Cindy and Tony, and Cindy is always calling at all times of night. I said, ‘Why is Cindy on that phone?’ And [Genesis] is on the phone saying, ‘I don’t know why but she workin’ Mommy, she workin’. I said, ‘What is she working, doing?’ She said, ‘She’s on set, Mommy.'” Davis added, “She’s like, ‘Mommy, you can’t act. You’ve got to be.'”
Genesis is Viola’s only child with husband, Julius Tennon. The loving couple adopted her in 2011.
