The only photo from her youth that has survived is of her in kindergarten, a melancholy portrait of a girl who, even at such a young age, knew what it meant to be less fortunate. She is now more than simply a well-known actress; she is now a voice for individuals who have faced similar difficulties.

Her upbringing was filled with adversity and sorrow. With her parents just getting by on factories and steady jobs, the family of eight relied on food stamps, which frequently ran out before the end of the month. Hunger was a frequent companion, and school lunches were her only consistent meals.

Hard winters, frozen plumbing, and nocturnal rat infestations plagued their residence. Despite these circumstances, she refused to let her surroundings shape her future. Instead, she nourished a fantasy of independence, relying on knowledge and creativity to propel her forward.

She was born 59 years ago in a one-room shanty on her grandmother’s South Carolina farm, which had formerly been a plantation. Her family relocated to Central Falls, Rhode Island, hoping for a better life, but poverty followed them.

They lived in a derelict building with no functioning plumbing, no heat in the winter, and a continual rat infestation. Food insecurity characterized most of her upbringing. After the food stamps ran out, she and her siblings scavenged garbage cans for food or stole from supermarkets.

When she was nine years old, the store owner caught her stealing, and the embarrassment lingered for many years. “The store owner screamed at me to get out, looking at me like I was nothing,” according to her memory. For years, school lunch was her only consistent meal.

Rats were another unpleasant part of her youth. They chewed up toys and occasionally leaped upon beds at night. To protect themselves, she and her siblings wrapped cloths over their necks while sleeping.

Despite the ongoing challenges, she envisioned a life where her poverty would no longer define her. Her school provided the structure and optimism she needed to aspire to something bigger than her surroundings.

Despite the difficulties at home, school became a haven for her. She excelled academically and enjoyed participating in extracurricular activities. She and her brothers seldom missed a day, escaping from the harsh reality of their family life via athletics, acting, and music.

When she was seven years old, she and her sisters joined a local talent event, which sparked her interest in acting. They devised skits, made improvised costumes, and performed enthusiastically. She enrolled in the Upward Bound program, which prepared students from low-income households for college.

Furthermore, she received a scholarship at Rhode Island College, where she majored in drama. One of her instructors recognized her exceptional potential and later remarked that she was a rare talent.

After college, she auditioned for Juilliard, one of the world’s most prominent performing arts institutions. She was one of just 14 finalists selected from 2,500 candidates. Her admittance into Juilliard was a watershed moment in her life, paving the way for her meteoric climb to fame.

Her experience at Juilliard sharpened her skills and prepared her for the tough entertainment world. After graduation, she began working in theater and immediately established herself.

At 29, she received her first Tony Award nomination for her performance in August Wilson’s play “Seven Guitars.” She characterized opening night as a significant occasion, saying, “My parents were in the crowd, and my father sobbed. I thought, ‘I’ve arrived. “This is it.

Her ability and perseverance drew the attention of Hollywood. She moved on to cinema and television, where she received critical recognition for her performances in parts that connected with viewers. In 2008, she received her first Oscar nomination for her part in “Doubt.”

Her stunning performance in “The Help” (2011) led her to another nomination. In 2015, she made history by being the first Black woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in “How to Get Away with Murder.”

She later won an Oscar for her part in “Fences” (2016), solidifying her reputation as one of the most recognized actors of her time. While her performances on theater and screen were pioneering, she utilized her platform for more than simply performing.

Viola Davis’s success in Hollywood has allowed her to shed light on the challenges she had as a child. She has become a strong champion for ending childhood hunger and poverty.

She raised approximately $4.5 million for the Hunger Is campaign, ensuring that children have access to nutritional meals. “This is the richest country in the world,” she told me. “There’s no reason kids should be going to school hungry.”

Davis has also spoken candidly about the emotional wounds caused by her childhood. In her memoir, “Finding Me,” she discusses the guilt and anguish she suffered from those early years. “What I felt was a complete absence of love,” she stated. “To feel love, you have to have the hard conversations.”

Writing the book, she explained, was her way of reclaiming her past and refusing to repress the truth. Her advocacy has had a huge influence, especially in her hometown of Central Falls, Rhode Island.

Hugh Minor, spokesman for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, applauded her efforts, stating, “It is so powerful for Viola Davis to say, ‘I was affected by hunger—and many people still are.'” It really is a rallying cry for people to take action.”

Davis continues to smash down boundaries and inspire change, but she has also accomplished what previously seemed impossible: a life of stability, love, and joy.

Davis has attained not just professional success but also the personal life she had hoped for. She is now married to Julius Tennon, an actor and producer, and they have adopted a daughter, Genesis.

“You could be a lousy actor. Yet you cannot be a horrible mother,” she continued, reflecting on the joy and responsibility that comes with parenthood. Davis purchased the decrepit South Carolina home she was born in on her 55th birthday in 2020.

She posted a snapshot of it on Instagram, captioned, “The above is the house where I was born on August 11, 1965. It is the origin of my narrative. Today, in my 55th year of life… I own it all.”

She has also remarked about the little girl she used to be and how her success helped cure that kid. “That’s the little girl who follows me all the time,” she told me. “I always feel like I have to go back and heal her.”

From living in a condemned building with rats to relaxing in her jacuzzi and opening her Sub-Zero refrigerator, she expresses thanks for her trip.