Viola Davis leads the way in a different kind of battle

Oscar, Emmy and two-time Tony winner Viola Davis, 57, constantly breaks ground, whether getting uncharacteristically physical as a warrior leader in “The Woman King” or making awards history.

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A lead actress Oscar nomination for “Woman King” would be Davis’ third, after "The Help” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and fifth overall, after a supporting nomination for “Doubt” and win for “Fences.” Davis would join …

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 ... performers in Oscar history who have reached the five-or-more nominations ranks.

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The five-or-more club contains only two Black actors, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. Davis would be the first Black woman.

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Davis would be the sixth person to reach five nominations after receiving a first nomination after age 40. The others are Freeman, Judi Dench, Robert Duvall, Anthony Hopkins and Thelma Ritter. Davis drew her first nomination, for “Doubt,” at 43.

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With four nominations, Davis already is the most nominated Black woman in history.

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If she wins for “Woman King,” Davis would be the first Black woman to receive multiple acting Academy Awards, and just the second to win a lead Oscar.

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Awards seasons since Halle Berry (“Monster’s Ball”) became the first Black woman to win a lead acting Oscar.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.