She has just won her first Oscar and may now be enjoying some well-earned time off in the Algarve.
Viola Davis, who last weekend won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in ‘Fences’, was one of the enthusiastic guests of a pre-Oscars party that took place in Los Angeles (February 24-25), designed to promote the Algarve as a luxury destination for Hollywood’s elite.
“I have never been to Portugal and I can’t wait to go to the Algarve. This is great, wow,” she said after being offered a trip to the region.
Hollywood superstar Leonardo Di Caprio was expected to attend but did not, though many other high-profile guests showed up including director Barry Jenkins, whose movie ‘Moonlight’ won Best Picture.
Other celebrity guests included accomplished actor and comedian Anthony Anderson, another Oscar-nominated director Damien Shazelle (La La Land), and rising actor Miles Turner (Whiplash, Fantastic Four, War Dogs).
Invited celebrities were offered free stays at top-flight Algarve hotels, including the Hilton Vilamoura, Quinta do Marco (Tavira), Monte Santo Resort (Lagoa), and Bela Vista (Portimão).
The promo initiative was held in Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills and was organised by Algarve tourism association (ATA) with the help of US travel magazine Swanky Retreats.
ATA boss Dora Coelho praised the initiative, which aimed to attract “international attention” in a “strategic market like the American that has been growing significantly” in the Algarve.
“It is through impactful actions like this one that we want to promote the region,” she added.
It was also an opportunity to showcase the Algarve’s potential for movie filming, thanks to its “climate, natural lighting and richness of scenarios and landscapes”.
