What is shingles? Viola Davis, Oscar-winning actress, opens up about her ‘terrified’ experience dealing with the infection

Film and TV actress Viola Davis has opened up about her health condition and spoke at length for the first time about her battle with shingles. According to Cleveland Clinic, it is a viral infection that causes a painful rash and nerve damage. The 61-year-old Oscar-winning actress said that she was officially diagnosed when she saw a doctor after developing a blistering rash.

While speaking to Parade on Thursday (October 8, 2026), ‘The Help’ actress said that she “started on my stomach and wrapped around my back, went away, and then came back on my upper back.” “I had no idea what shingles was, none whatsoever."

She teamed up with GSK’s Shingles due to the lack of awareness regarding the condition. According to her, the physical reaction she experienced in her body left her “terrified.” “It was hard to dress myself; it was hard to get out of bed. I was completely exhausted,” she added.


Further elaborating about her experience dealing with the infection, Viola said that at the age 61 immune system does not remain the same as it was in years prior. She emphasizes that “it naturally decreases with age.” This tends to make people over age 50 more susceptible and at increased risk of the condition. “The thing with shingles is, it’s extremely painful, like, nine out of ten pain. It’s hard to focus on anything else; it’s nerve pain,” she said.

The Emmy-winning actress also exuded hope as she shared her 'testimony' to spread awareness after dealing with the 'highly unusual' circumstance of getting it more than once."

What is Shingles

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. It can occur anywhere on your body and typically looks like a single stripe of blisters that wraps around the left side or the right side of your torso.

Also known as herpes zoster, shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash that can show up anywhere on the body and last for weeks. The infection is brought about by the same virus that triggers chickenpox.


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According to Cleveland Clinic, the infection remains inactive in your body and can reactivate in your nerves later in life. Those who have suffered with chickenpox could get shingles. Some symptoms also include fatigue, headache, fever, and chills.

Viola Davis speaks about hectic schedule

During the interview with Parade, Viola also brought up the issue of hee hectic scheduling as she battled the condition. The ‘Fences’ star said she was “running on fumes at that time; living on stress.” Between a busy acting career and motherhood, she says, “I was absolutely run down.” This led her to now becoming more “radical” about her self-care.

“I have everything at my house,” Davis shared of implementing wellness practices to manage her health. “I have my cell mat, I have my vagus nerve stimulator, I have my heated eye mask at night, I have my Epsom salt bath bomb baths. Every single night, I take a bath with my husband; we soak. That’s our gift to ourselves. I have an infrared sauna; I have a jacuzzi. I do it all. I spray my pillow with lavender.”