The Woman King is an upcoming historical epic starring Viola Davis in the leading role. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film is about an all-women legion of warriors who are tasked with protecting and defending the Kingdom of Dahomey in West Africa in the 19th Century. The Woman King is set to have its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, before releasing in theaters on September 16.

Davis stars as General Nanisca, and you can already see her kicking butt in The Woman King‘s trailer. What’s more, Davis has remarked on her “transformative” role in the film, which required a great of physical and emotional exertion. Indeed, the actress had to undergo specialized training to get into the body and mind of General Nanisca. Here’s how Davis prepared for her role in The Woman King.

Davis Followed an Intense Workout Routine

David had to do a lot of physical training to prepare for her role and packed on a lot of muscle to play the role of Nanisca. In a training featurette with CNN, she spoke about how the process made her feel unapologetic about her body and allowed her to celebrate the physical beauty of a muscular frame and how its relation to femininity. Davis had to embark on an intense journey to get her body ready for the physically demanding role. The routine was constructed by her trainer, Gabriela Mclain, and it involved high-intensity exercises, including…