Viola Davis Says Shingles Pain Was a ‘9 Out of 10’: How It Changed Her Life

Award-winning actress and producer Viola Davis opens up about her painful experience with shingles, why it changed the way she prioritizes her health, and what she wants others to know about their risk. Photo: Syneos Health Award-winning actress and producer Viola Davis is opening up about her painful experience with shingles and how it changed her approach to her health. Davis said the pain reached a 9 out of 10, prompting her to take her health more seriously and prioritize stress management. Shingles risk increases with age, particularly after 50, but vaccination is more than 90% effective at preventing the disease. Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award-winning actress and producer Viola Davis was 50 years old and at the height of her career when she developed shingles. “All of a sudden, I got a rash in the middle of traveling and juggling [back-to-back] movies that started in the middle of my stomach [and] wrapped around my back,” she told Healthline. “And the pain was definitely at a 9 out of 10.” Focused on work, Davis didn’t see a doctor right away. Her symptoms eventually subsided but later returned on her upper back. “That is when I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness, I just got bi…

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