Viola Davis felt 'in the presence of greatness' when starring alongside Chadwick Boseman

Viola Davis felt she was "in the presence of greatness" when she starred alongside Chadwick Boseman.

The 55-year-old actress appeared opposite Boseman - who passed away in August this year aged 43 following a secret, four-year battle with colon cancer - in 'Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom', and she doesn't "see him tragically" because of all he managed to achieve in his life.

She said: "To work with Chadwick is to be in the presence of greatness, really.

"And I actually don’t see him tragically - I know he lost his life at 43 - because of what he did with the time he had."

Davis also appeared opposite Boseman in James Brown biopic 'Get on Up', in which he portrayed the music icon and she played his mum Susie Brown.

She told Saudi Arabian newspaper Arab News: "I played his mom, so I was always calling in my baby. I always sort of saw him like that.

"I probably would not have said that to him because he may have cringed."

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