Viola Davis has always been about legacy, but this weekend she officially secured her place in television history. The EGOT winner was inducted into the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 16, at LA Live, where she reflected on her journey from humble beginnings to Hollywood royalty.

Davis, who arrived with her husband Julius Tennon and their 15-year-old daughter Genesis, admitted that being honored was never part of her plan. “I really enjoyed what I decided to do with my life,” Davis told Fox News at the Televerse red carpet. “It wasn’t with the intention of becoming famous or being in the Television Hall of Fame. This has all been divinely orchestrated, but if I were to really think about it, I feel like I’ve been immortalized.”

From her powerhouse role as Annalise Keating in “How to Get Away with Murder” to her Tony-winning turn in “Fences,” Davis has long cemented her spot as one of the most celebrated actors of her generation. Her credits span film and TV — The Help, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Suicide Squad, and even her layered portrayal of Michelle Obama in Showtime’s First Ladies. Off-screen, her memoir Finding Me became a bestseller, further shaping her cultural footprint.

During the ceremony, Davis spoke on how storytelling makes her work timeless. “One of my favorite quotes is when the last person who has a memory of you dies, that’s when you’ll truly be dead. When you’re preserved in celluloid, and especially on TV, you’re immortalized… your seed is out there,” she told Fox News.

The honor came just days after she rang in her 60th birthday on Aug. 11 with a trip to Cabo, debuting fiery red hair that set social media buzzing. Asked how reaching the milestone might shape her future roles, Davis leaned into honesty. “I haven’t had peace in my life in the past. The gift of peace, but also the projects for me that mean the most, is when I can see the humanity in the characters. I like people. And I don’t just like pretty people and famous people. I like people,” she said in the interview.

For Davis, telling those stories is the core of her artistry. “I want my mom to be the show. My aunties. A woman I met at the bus stop. I feel like when you make them the show, you make people feel less alone, and you make people feel seen. That’s what I look for,” she told Fox News.

Davis was inducted alongside Ryan Murphy, Conan O’Brien, Henry Winkler, Mike Post, and the late Don Mischer — a lineup of industry goats. But it was her words, equal parts grounded and profound, that reminded the room why her impact goes far beyond the stage and screen.