Viola Davis
Viola Davis is proud of her character’s pansexuality in “How to Get Away With Murder.” In this photo, the actress arrives at the 22nd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California, on Dec. 11, 2016. Reuters/Danny Moloshok

People belonging to the LGBT community still find it hard to be loved and accepted in today’s society, so “How to Get Away With Murder” star Viola Davis, who plays the ruthless Annalise Keating in the ABC show, is glad that her character gets to portray a pansexual character in a positive light.

“I love the idea that she’s just searching for love and intimacy and whoever will give it to her. I love that it’s not coming from a place of damage and being screwed up because I don’t think it’s screwed up,” she told E! News. “I think it’s an interesting, liberating thought to just seek the person who is seeking you. It’s kind of an interesting 21st Century element to place in this character.”

READ: Which characters will return in “How to Get Away With Murder” Season 4?

Creator Pete Nowalk confirmed that Annalise was pansexual at the 2017 TCA summer press tour during a GLAAD panel, and Davis said she was glad with the revelation because she did not know just how much she could reveal herself.

Now that the cat’s out of the bag, Davis hopes Annalise will inspire people from the LGBT community. “I’m at a place where I just want to do anything that is different. And anything that I feel is going to touch people in a way,” she said. “I think a lot of homosexuals and the LGBT community, they’re kind of feeling like they’re on the outside now and I think it’s wonderful to have a character like that to relate to and is not once again coming from a place of damage but coming from a place of seeking, of really wanting to be loved and love.”

In “How to Get Away With Murder” Season 4, Davis’ husband, Julius Tennon, will be joining the cast in an undisclosed guest-starring role. According to Deadline, Tennon has so far been booked for only one episode.

Tennon will be joining “NYPD Blue” alum Jimmy Smits. The Hollywood Reporter said that Smits has booked a major recurring role and will be playing a prominent figure in the life of Annalise. His character will also have an integral role in the fourth season mystery.

“How to Get Away with Murder” will return to ABC on Sept. 28 at 10 p.m. EST.

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