“Last year in my 50s”

Viola Davis reaches a major milestone!

The actress celebrated her 59th birthday on Sunday, August 11, and shared a glimpse into her festivities, which included a birthday dinner — where the guest of honor sat with a big smile in front of a cake decorated with pink, white and yellow frosting and several large candles.

Other photos show the EGOT winner smiling in a car and posing in a kitchen, while video footage shows her loved ones wishing her happy birthday and singing to her during the special dinner as she was presented with the cake.

Davis began her Instagram caption with a quote from the late French writer Émile Zola: “If you ask me why I came into this life, I will tell you: I came to live out loud.”

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“I have love. I have courage. I have curiosity. I am alive!” she continued. “Here’s to my last year of my 50s. 🥂 Thank you for ALL the birthday wishes ❤️❤️❤️❤️.”

Davis received appropriate well-wishes from a host of other celebrities and colleagues in her comments. Janelle Monáe wrote: “😍😍Happy birthday beautiful soul 😍😍.”

“Happy birthday 🙏🏾,” Harold Perrineau chimed in, while the actress Hunger Games Co-star Rachel Zegler said: “Happy birthday beautiful Viola!!!!”

“Happy birthday beautiful 💚💚💚🎉🎂🥳🎈🎊🎊🎁,” wrote Taraji P. Henson, and James Gunn’s comment read, “Happy birthday to an all around wonderful human being. ❤️”

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Davis spoke to PEOPLE about her career last April and said that despite her impressive career and numerous accolades, she was completely surprised when she became a star.

“When you grow up in certain circumstances, you don’t see yourself anymore. And that’s why you dream big, because it’s almost like you’re forcing yourself to just believe that something could happen,” said the actress, who is mother to 14-year-old daughter Genesis with her husband, producer Julius Tennon.

Looking ahead to her next chapter, the How to get away with murder Alum told PEOPLE that one of her goals is to “become the love of my life.”

“I think you only find meaning when you fully accept your story,” Davis said. “The greatest regret of the dying is that they have lived a life that was determined by everyone else and not by themselves.”

She added: “I try to live my life the way I want it – everything. And I dare to do that, even if it looks chaotic from the outside. I want to belong to myself.”