Culture
Viola Davis Shares Painful Childhood Memories Of Living In Poverty, Including Being Called To The School Office Because Of Poor Hygiene
Powerhouse Viola Davis is known today as one of the great actresses in Hollywood who can play a wide variety of emotional characters, from "The Help" to "Fences." Her latest project is playing Michelle Obama in "First Lady."
By Gina Florio2 min read
While you see a glamorous, successful woman today, Viola Davis didn't exactly have an easy start to life. In fact, she grew up in poverty, and her family struggled with basic things like putting food on the table. Davis opened up to Oprah about her childhood experiences in Oprah + Viola: A Netflix Special Event, and she revealed that the home she grew up in was infested with rats and often lacking gas or electricity. In fact, "the plaster was coming off the walls" of her home, and she remembers "always being hungry."