Viola Davis Toasts to Her 'Last Year in my 50s' as She Shares Photos from Birthday Dinner: 'I'm Alive!'

"I got love. I got bravery. I got curiosity," Davis captioned her post, which received comments from Tina Knowles, Janelle Monáe and more

Viola Davis is marking a big milestone!

The actress turned 59 on Sunday, Aug. 11, and shared a glimpse of her celebrations that included a birthday dinner — with the guest of honor flashing a big smile as she sat in front of a cake decorated with pink, white and yellow frosting, plus several tall candles.

More photos featured the EGOT winner smiling inside a car and posing in a kitchen, while video footage showed loved ones wishing her a happy birthday and singing to her during the special dinner as she was presented with her cake.

Davis began her Instagram caption with a quote from late French novelist Émile Zola: " 'If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud.' "

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"I got love. I got bravery. I got curiosity. I'm alive!" she continued. "Here's to my last year in my 50s. 🥂 Thank you for ALL the birthday wishes ❤️❤️❤️❤️."

Davis received said wishes from a bevy of fellow celebrities and colleagues in her comments. Wrote Janelle Monáe, "😍😍Happy birthday beautiful soul 😍😍."

"Happy birthday 🙏🏾," Harold Perrineau chimed in, while the actress's Hunger Games costar Rachel Zegler said, "Happy birthday beautiful viola!!!!"

"Happy birthday beautiful 💚💚💚🎉🎂🥳🎈🎊🎊🎁," wrote Taraji P. Henson, as James Gunn's comment read, "Happy Birthday to a wonderful person all around. ❤️"

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Related: Viola Davis to Publish New Novel Co-Written with Bestselling Author James Patterson

Davis opened up to PEOPLE this past April about her career, including how stardom took her by surprise despite her impressive trajectory and numerous accolades.

“When you grow up in a certain set of circumstances, you no longer see yourself. And that's why you dream big, because it's almost like you're forcing yourself to just believe that something could happen,” said the actress, who is mom to 14-year-old daughter Genesis with producer husband Julius Tennon.

Looking ahead to her next chapter, the How to Get Away with Murder alum told PEOPLE that one of her goals is "to become the love of my life."

"I feel that how you find meaning is you have to completely embrace your story," Davis said. "The No. 1 regret of the dying is that they lived a life that was defined by everyone else and not themselves."

She added, "[I’m] trying to live my life on my terms — everything. And dare to do that, even if it looks messy on the outside. I want to belong to myself."

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