See Viola Davis’ Most Adorable Photos with Her 16-Year-Old Daughter Genesis, on the Oscar Winner’s 61st Birthday
See Viola Davis’ Most Adorable Photos with Her 16-Year-Old Daughter Genesis, on the Oscar Winner’s 61st Birthday
Andrea Wurzburger, Brendan LeTue, August 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTC
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Viola Davis, Genesis Tennon, Julius TennonCredit: Viola Davis/Instagram
Viola Davis‘ daughter Genesis is growing up fast!
The EGOT winner shares her only child, born on July 10, 2010, with her husband of over two decades Julius Tennon. Over the years, the Fences actress has shown plenty of love to her daughter on social media. On her 15th birthday last year, Davis posted a sweet photo of the mother-daughter duo on Instagram with the caption, “Love you to the moon G.....to the moon......❤️❤️❤️.”
She’s also given Genesis, an aspiring actress, pieces of wisdom that she’s collected over her decades in the entertainment industry. Speaking to PEOPLE for the magazine’s 50th anniversary, Davis said, “What I tell my daughter right now is, ‘Genesis, you are the love of your life.’”
The Fences actress continued, “You have to start right now to have a radical love affair with yourself, to be in touch with your inner voice, what you like, what you don’t like, what’s crossing the boundaries, and you honor that. And through that, that is the seed where everything grows.”
As the How to Get Away with Murder star turns 61 on Aug. 11, 2026, take a look at her most adorable family photos with Genesis!
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Three’s Company
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
Davis and husband Julius Tennon welcomed their daughter, Genesis, into their family through adoption back in 2011.
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Party Hard
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
Genesis is featured in one of Davis’ first Instagram posts from August 2015. In a pair of photos, Genesis helps her mom ring in her 50th birthday.
“‘Mommy is a part of the 5-0 club and she’s fabulous!!’-Genesis,” Davis captioned a sweet photo of her daughter blowing into a birthday noisemaker.
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So Thankful
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
In honor of Thanksgiving 2015, Davis shared a throwback photo with her husband, Julian Tennon and Genesis. She wrote alongside the family photo, “I am thankful for love and life. That’s all and that is enough.”
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Red Carpet Shine
Credit: Tommaso Boddi/Getty
Genesis proved that a smile is all it takes to rule the red carpet when she attended an event in March 2015.
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Mom’s Best Red Carpet Date
Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
In March 2015, Genesis hit the red carpet with her mom at the premiere of HOME.
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Watching Mom Make History
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
How many of us can say that our moms made history? Davis did just that when she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2017, becoming the first Black woman to win an Oscar, Primetime Emmy and Tony.
After her big moment, Davis posted a photo with her daughter and husband with balloons that read, “GO VIOLA.”
“My family. Thank you everyone for your love and support,” Davis captioned the photo.
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Two of a Kind
Credit: Earl Gibson III/Getty
Like mother, like daughter! The pair got all dolled up and attended the 11th Annual Just Like My Child Foundation Gala in November 2017.
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Sweet Support
Credit: Albert L. Ortega/Getty
In January 2017, Genesis gave her mom a kiss on the cheek as the duo posed for photos by the actress’ new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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Lots of Love
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
In honor of Genesis’ birthday in 2017, Davis wrote of her daughter on Instagram, “You were born from mommy’s heart. I love you so much for accepting me as your mommy. Happy birthday Miss Genesis! Love, love my baby!!!”
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Ready, Set, Go!
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
Genesis got to see her mom in action when she visited her on the set of How to Get Away with Murder in August 2017.
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On Their Way
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
Davis, Genesis and Genesis’ doll were all smiles as they headed to “Vegas baby!!!” in August 2017.
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Throwback Cuteness
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
Davis shared this throwback with her daughter in January 2018.
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Funny Faces
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
A family who makes funny faces together, stays together! Davis wrote of her husband and daughter in June 2018, “Met you with bad credit and skepticism about love. Found you and it all fell away.”
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Family Photos
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
“Happy Holidays from my family to yours,” Davis captioned a photo posted on Christmas 2018 of the family of three.
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Happy Family
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
In January 2019, Genesis saw her parents off as they headed to the Critics Choice Awards.
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Valentine’s Love
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
The trio celebrated Valentine’s Day together in 2019, with Davis captioning a family photo, “In all life’s ups and downs.... Even with all the accolades... my greatest treasure are my loves. My heart. My Julius and Genesis! Happy Valentine’s Day ❤️”
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All She Ever Wanted
Viola Davis and daughter Genesis in January 2020Credit: Jon Kopaloff/Getty
Davis told PEOPLE in 2019 that her love for Genesis “surpasses anything that I could want from the material world.”
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Advertisement
‘My Real Legacy’
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
In March 2020, amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Davis penned a heartfelt caption honoring her “relishing [her] true blessings” and sharing a throwback photo with Genesis at the beach.
She wrote, “Besides hand sanitizers, avoiding crowds, electrolytes, Tylenol, gassing up, etc... THIS is my #Coronavirus weapon. I’m relishing my true blessings. My real legacy. This time is a reminder that all we have is NOW. Imagine the 46 million or more people in this country who live on or below the poverty line. Think of those who can’t drive or walk or who don’t have a loved one who has their back. Praying for EVERYONE’s health but also hoping this is a wake up call to realize what has true value❤”
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Surrounded By Love
Credit: Viola Davis/ instagram
“I empower her to understand that she has to count it all as joy. Even her mistakes, her failures, her triumphs, what she looks like, all of it. That’s all a part of her loving herself, even if none of those things change,” Davis told PEOPLE.
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The Big 1-0!
Credit: Amanda Edwards/WireImage
Genesis officially hit double digits in July 2020, with Davis gushing on Instagram, “Happy 10th birthday to our heartbeat, our love, our baby.....Miss Genesis ❤❤❤❤❤🙌🏿🙌🏿”
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Model Child
Viola Davis, daughter GenesisCredit: Shamar Benoit
The mother-daughter duo rocked some Ivy Park outfits — courtesy of none other than Beyoncé, of course — and looked impeccably cool while doing it.
“Thank you @Beyonce!! Genesis and I love @WeAreIvyPark’s new #IcyPark collection!!! 😍🔥 #AvailableNow #IVYPARK #Adidas,” Davis captioned the post.
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Birthday Beauty
Credit: Viola Davis Instagram
Mom and Dad (and Grandma!) celebrated Gensis’ 11th with an epic cake and balloon combo at The Sugar Factory in Los Angeles in July 2021.
“Can it get anymore perfect!?!?! ALL my loves....daughter, hubby and my mommy. Happy 11th birthday G. Mama, Daddy and Grandma love you sooo much,” Davis captioned the family photo. “You make my life. Love YOU!!! ❤❤❤❤”
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Whole Heart
Credit: Viola Davis/Instagram
The actress shared several never-before-seen photos of her daughter on Instagram in July 2022 in honor of Genesis’ 12th birthday.
“Happy birthday to my HEART!!!! My LOVE!!!!!! MY EVERYTHING!!!! My G!! Happy 12th birthday!!!! I love you beyond anything I could imagine ❤❤❤❤,” Davis captioned the touching birthday tribute.
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Movie Night
Genesis Tennon, Viola Davis and Julius TennonCredit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
Genesis and Julius accompanied Davis hand-in-hand to the premiere of her film The Woman King at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2022.
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Family Dinner
Julius Tennon, Genesis Tennon and Viola DavisCredit: Robin L Marshall/Getty
Later that year, they stepped out again for a dinner honoring Davis and presenting her with the William O. Douglas Award.
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Happiest Place on Earth
Viola Davis and Genesis TennonCredit: Viola Davis/Instagram
Ahead of Genesis’ 13th birthday, Davis shared one of her favorite photos of “me and my G” at Disneyland.
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Fashion Forward
Julius Tennon, Genesis Tennon and Viola DavisCredit: Marc Piasecki/WireImage
During L’Oréal’s Paris Fashion Week show in October 2023, the family of three made a stylish appearance to walk the runway.
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Formal Function
Julius Tennon, Genesis Tennon and Viola DavisCredit: Leon Bennett/Getty
Davis, Julius and Genesis got all dressed up in their best black tie attire for a gala in December 2023.
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Shoulder to Lean On
Viola Davis, Genesis Tennon and Julius TennonCredit: Viola Davis/Instagram
“A perfect Mothers Day with my loves,” Davis wrote under a family photo in May 2024.
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Fabulous 14
Viola Davis and Genesis TennonCredit: Viola Davis/Instagram
Davis shared a rare photo of her “soon to be 14-year-old” daughter ahead of her birthday on Instagram in July 2024.
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Glam Fam
Viola Davis, Genesis Tennon and Julius TennonCredit: Jon Kopaloff/Getty
Julius and Genesis joined Davis at the 2025 Golden Gala, where she received the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
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Matching with Mom
Viola Davis, Julius Tennon and Genesis TennonCredit: UNIQUE NICOLE/AFP via Getty
Genesis twinned with her mother in ruby red gowns as they supported Davis at the premiere of her action thriller G20.
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Gals at the Gala
Viola Davis and Genesis TennonCredit: Gregg DeGuire/Variety via Getty
Davis held her daughter close for a photo at the 2025 Spring Break Gala held by City Year Los Angeles.
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Smiles All Around
Viola Davis, Genesis Tennon and Julius TennonCredit: Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty
In 2026, the glamorous family returned to the Golden Eve event, where Helen Mirren and Sarah Jessica Parker received honors.
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Night on the Town
Julius Tennon, Viola Davis and Genesis TennonCredit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
The next month, Genesis stepped out with Julius and Davis for the NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles.
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Fantastic 15
Julius Tennon, Viola Davis and Genesis TennonCredit: Viola Davis/Instagram
To celebrate Genesis’s 15th birthday, Davis posted a new photo of the family of three: “And just like that.....our baby is 15.” Time flies!
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Her Baby Girl
Viola Davis and Genesis TennonCredit: Viola Davis/Instagram
“A joy and privilege to be your mom,” Davis wrote in honor of Mother’s Day 2025, sharing a cuddly throwback photo with Genesis. “Love my G DEEP!!!!”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
