Off The Record
Now A Well-known TV Personality, She Was Raised In Poverty With Five Siblings, Surrounded By Rats, And Without Electricity
Her kindergarten portrait is the only one of her early years that has survived; it is a somber picture of a girl who, even at that young age, knew what it meant to have less than others.
She is now not just a well-known actress but also a voice for people who have gone through similar struggles as her.
She experienced adversity and deprivation as a child. The family of eight depended on food stamps, which frequently ran out before the month was up, as her parents struggled to make ends meet with stable employment and factory work. Her only consistent source of food was school lunches, and hunger was a frequent companion.
The hard winters, frozen plumbing, and nighttime swarms of rats tormented their home. She refused to let her surroundings dictate her future in spite of these circumstances. Rather, she cultivated an aspiration to liberate herself, utilizing knowledge and imagination to propel her path to a more promising future.
A Childhood of Unimaginable Hardship
Her grandmother’s farm in South Carolina, which was formerly a plantation, is where she was born 59 years ago in a one-room shanty. In search of a better life, her family relocated to Central Falls, Rhode Island, but poverty followed.
They shared a derelict building with a persistent rat infestation, no heat in the winter, and broken plumbing. Much of her childhood was characterized by food insecurity. She and her siblings stole from stores or scrounged in trash cans for food once the food stamps ran out.
At nine years old, she was caught stealing, and the shame stayed with her for years. “The store owner screamed at me to get out, looking at me like I was nothing,” she recalled. For years, school lunch was often her only reliable meal.
Another unpleasant aspect of her early years was rats. At night, they occasionally jumped onto beds and chewed on toys. She and her siblings slept with rags tied around their necks for protection.
Despite the constant obstacles, she envisioned a life in which poverty would no longer define her and she would be respected and seen. The structure and optimism she needed to dream bigger than her situation were provided by her education.
Resilience Through Education and Performance
School became a haven for her despite the difficulties at home. She enjoyed extracurricular activities and did exceptionally well in school. She and her siblings hardly ever missed a day, escaping the terrible realities of their home lives by losing themselves in music, drama, and sports.
When she and her sisters participated in a neighborhood talent contest when she was seven years old, her love for acting was ignited. They prepared improvised costumes, devised skits, and gave passionate performances. She became a member of the Upward Bound program, which helped low-income students get ready for college.
She also received financial aid to attend Rhode Island College, where she majored in drama. She had tremendous promise, according to one of her instructors, who later said that she “was a talent that doesn’t come down the pike very often.”
She tried out for Juilliard, one of the world’s most prominent performing arts schools, after graduating from college. She got one of just 14 coveted places out of 2,500 candidates. Her life took a significant turn when she was accepted to Juilliard, which paved the way for her eventual ascent to fame.
From Stage to Stardom
She developed her skills and got ready for the cutthroat entertainment world during her stay at Juilliard. She started working in theater after graduating and soon established herself.
At 29, she earned her first Tony Award nomination for her performance in August Wilson’s play “Seven Guitars.” She described opening night as a defining moment, “My mom and dad were in the audience, and my dad cried. I thought, ‘I’ve arrived. This is it.'”
Hollywood took notice of her talent and commitment. She made the switch to film and television, where she gave highly regarded performances in parts that engaged viewers. She was nominated for her first Oscar in 2008 for her performance in “Doubt.”
After that, she received another nomination for her strong performance in “The Help” (2011). In 2015, her performance in “How to Get Away with Murder” broke barriers, making her the first Black woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
She went on to become one of the most renowned actors of her generation after winning an Oscar for her performance in “Fences”. She utilized her platform for purposes beyond performing, even though her accomplishments on theater and screen were revolutionary.
Using Her Voice for Change
Viola Davis’s success in Hollywood has made it possible for her to raise awareness of the same hardships she had as a child. She is now a fervent supporter of the fight against poverty and hunger among children.
Through her work with the Hunger Is campaign, she helped raise over $4.5 million to ensure children have access to nutritious meals. “This is the richest country in the world,” she said. “There’s no reason kids should be going to school hungry.”
Davis has also been candid about the emotional scars left by her upbringing. In her memoir, “Finding Me,” she delves into the shame and trauma she carried from those early years. “What I felt was a complete absence of love,” she explained. “To feel love, you have to have the hard conversations.”
She claimed that writing the book was her way of taking back her narrative and not hiding the truth. In particular, her hometown of Central Falls, Rhode Island, has benefited much from her efforts.
Hugh Minor, spokesperson for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, praised her efforts, saying, “It is so powerful for Viola Davis to say, ‘I was affected by hunger—and many people still are.’ It really is a rallying call for people to do something.”
In addition to breaking down obstacles and igniting change, Davis has accomplished what appeared unattainable at one point: a stable, loving, and fulfilled existence.
A Full Circle Moment
Davis had not only succeeded professionally but also lived the kind of personal life she had always imagined. She is currently married to Julius Tennon, an actor and producer, and the two of them adopted a daughter, Genesis.
“You could be a bad actor.[..] but you cannot be a bad mother,” she said, reflecting on the joy and responsibility of motherhood. In 2020, on her 55th birthday, Davis bought the dilapidated South Carolina house where she was born.
Sharing a photo of it on Instagram, she wrote, “The above is the house where I was born on August 11, 1965. It is the birthplace of my story. Today, in my 55th year of life… I own it… all of it.”
She has also spoken about the little girl she once was and how her success is a way of healing that child. “That’s the little girl who follows me all the time,” she said. “I always feel like I have to go back and heal her.”
She gratefully acknowledges her experience, which included living in a rat-infested abandoned building, lounging in her jacuzzi, and opening her Sub-Zero refrigerator.
Now Trending:
- A Mother’s Response to Her Daughter’s School Sparks a Nationwide Dialogue on Respect
- Man Comes Home To Find ‘Humiliated’ Wife Crying Behind Closed Door
- Christmas Drama Unravels as Saleswoman Faces Consequences for Body-Shaming Customer
Please SHARE this story with your Family and Friends! It might brighten their day and inspire them.
