Viola Davis to Be Honored as Outstanding Performer of the Year at Santa Barbara Film Festival

The Help's Viola Davis will be hailed as Outstanding Performer of the Year at the Santa Barbara Film Festival at a tribute to be held Jan. 27.our editor recommends'The Help's' Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer to Present at THR's Women in Entertainment BreakfastViola Davis Adopts a Baby Girl Davis plays Aibileen Clark, an African-American maid in the drama, written and directed by Tate Taylor, set in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960s. "It's hard to imagine another performance this year that pierces your heart the way Viola does as Aibileen," SBIFF executive director Roger Durling said. Davis, who will also be seen in the upcoming Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, is already an Oscar nominee for her supporting performance in 2008's Doubt. The festival itself runs from Jan. 26 to Feb. 5. Santa Barbara International Film Festival Viola Davis The Help