Viola Davis’s childhood was marked by hardship and poverty. Born 59 years ago in a one-room shack in South Carolina, her family struggled with hunger, living in a condemned building with no plumbing or heat.

Despite these challenges, Davis excelled in school and found solace in extracurricular activities, particularly performance. She earned a scholarship to Rhode Island College, later securing a spot at Juilliard, which led to a successful acting career.

Davis gained recognition on stage and screen, earning Tony nominations and becoming the first Black woman to win an Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She later won an Oscar for “Fences” in 2016.

Beyond acting, Davis has become an advocate for childhood hunger and poverty, helping raise millions for the Hunger Is campaign and sharing her struggles in her memoir, “Finding Me.”