The Best Supporting Actress of the 89th Academy Awards went to Viola Davis on Sunday for her role as a mother and a wife of a struggling family in drama film "Fences."

Davis played Rose Maxson in the film, opposite Denzel Washington as her husband Troy, and supported him through his worst time.

The role also earned her a trophy at the Screen Actors Guild Award earlier.

A tearful Davis saluted late playwright August Wilson in her speech after receiving the award, saying the "Fences" author "exhumed and exalted the ordinary people."

She also thanked her director Washington and her family.

source: Xinhua