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EGOT star reveals daring wardrobe malfunction at 2026 Actor Awards
Viola Davis reveals what was really hidden under her dress during her biggest night
Viola Davis, the esteemed EGOT winner, has disclosed a long-held sartorial secret regarding her iconic 2017 Oscars appearance.
Speaking with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show on Tuesday, the 60-year-old actress revealed that beneath her custom scarlet Armani gown, she prioritised practicality over traditional red-carpet glamour.
Recalling the moment she accepted the Best Supporting Actress trophy for Fences, Davis noted: “I won an Oscar. What do you think? But underneath that dress, this is what I think because I see them every single time. I have on platform sneakers that were specially made for me that were probably seven inches high.”
The actress emphasised that while the world saw a poised star, she vividly remembers “wearing sneakers right there” on the stage.
This revelation comes alongside a more recent fashion mishap at the 2026 Actor Awards held on 1 March. While presenting Michael B. Jordan with an award, Davis navigated a significant wardrobe malfunction in her emerald Gucci gown.
“I did rip my dress open, I did,” she told Fallon, though she remained unfazed, adding, “But it's all good!”
Her 2017 look has since been immortalised as a wax figure at Madame Tussauds, an experience she described with characteristic candour. “It freaked me right the hell out,” she recalled of seeing the likeness.
Currently promoting her debut novel, Judge Stone, Davis continues to share these behind-the-scenes tales with her signature humour, noting that she and her husband, Julius Tennon, “have been laughing for two days” over her recent viral award show reactions.