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Viola Davis Makes History As First Woman Of Colour To Win Best Actress Emmy

Viola Davis took home the Emmy for Best Actress in a drama series. Photo: Getty Images

Viola Davis made history at today's Emmy Awards when she became the first African-American woman to win the Emmy for Best Actress in a drama series.

The How to Get Away With Murder star gave a powerful speech, in which she quoted civil rights activist, Harriet Tubman.

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"In my mind I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line. But I can’t seem to get there no how. I can’t seem to get over that line."

The 50-year-old actress went on to thank a number of people in her speech, including the show's executive producer, Shonda Rhimes, and actresses Kerry Washington, Halle Berry her fellow nominee, Empire star Taraji P. Henson, who she says have "redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black".

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"The only thing that separates women of colour from anyone else is opportunity," she concluded.

"You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there."