She Was Raised in Poverty with 5 Siblings, No Electricity & Rats in the Home — Now She’s a Beloved TV Icon

The only childhood photo that remains of her is a kindergarten portrait — a somber image of a little girl who already knew what it meant to go without. Today, she is not only a celebrated actress but also a powerful voice for those who’ve walked a similar path.

Her early years were defined by hardship. With her parents struggling in low-wage factory and stable jobs, their family of eight depended on food stamps that often didn’t last through the month. Hunger was constant, and school lunches were often her only consistent source of food.

Their home was frigid in the winter, with frozen pipes and rats that came out at night. But despite these harsh conditions, she never let her surroundings shape her destiny. Instead, she focused on breaking free through education and creativity, holding tightly to a vision of a better future.

A Childhood of Extreme Poverty

Born 59 years ago in a one-room cabin on her grandmother’s South Carolina farm — once a former plantation — she later moved with her family to Central Falls, Rhode Island. But poverty didn’t stay behind.

They ended up living in a condemned building with no working heat or plumbing and a relentless rat problem. When food stamps ran out, she and her siblings scoured trash bins or stole food from stores. At age nine, she was caught stealing, and the humiliation stuck with her. “The store owner screamed at me to get out, looking at me like I was nothing,” she recalled.

Nights were especially terrifying. Rats would chew through toys and sometimes jump onto their beds. She and her siblings wrapped rags around their necks as a defense. Still, she dared to dream. At school, she found safety, structure, and hope.

#TBT to my high school days, when I started acting. Share your TBT w/ #PowerOfDreams. #HondaPartner https://t.co/xQcxKWhWY8 pic.twitter.com/evmebr0riG

— Viola Davis (@violadavis) February 2, 2017

Education Becomes Her Lifeline

Despite being bullied, especially by racist boys, she never missed school. She and her siblings found joy in sports, music, and theater. She first caught the performing bug at age seven when she and her sisters entered a local talent contest. They made up skits, crafted costumes, and performed with gusto.

She joined the Upward Bound program, helping students from low-income families prepare for college. She later earned a scholarship to Rhode Island College and majored in theater. One professor later described her as a rare and extraordinary talent.

She auditioned for Juilliard, one of the world’s top performing arts schools. Out of 2,500 applicants, only 14 were accepted — she was one of them. It was the beginning of a transformation.

From Dreamer to Drama Star

Her time at Juilliard refined her skills. She soon made her mark in theater and, at 29, earned a Tony nomination for “Seven Guitars.” “My parents were in the audience. My dad cried. I thought, ‘This is it,’” she recalled.

She moved to film and TV, drawing acclaim. Her Oscar-nominated role in Doubt (2008) proved her range, and her performance in The Help (2011) garnered another nomination. In 2015, she became the first Black woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama for How to Get Away with Murder.

She later won an Oscar for Fences (2016), achieving the rare Triple Crown of Acting: Oscar, Tony, and Emmy. She also landed among The New York Times’ top 10 actors of the 21st century.

The actress attends the Disney and Miramax Oscar Nominees Celebration on February 21, 2009 | Source: Getty Images

What sets her apart is her authenticity. She brings depth, vulnerability, and power to every role. Despite all the awards, she prefers not to display them. Her husband of over 20 years, Julius Tennon, and their daughter, Genesis, may admire her trophies — but she’d rather store them in the garage.

“I’m grateful,” she once said, reflecting on her Oscar. “But you can’t live there.” For her, every new role brings fresh challenges and, at times, lingering doubt.

Viola Davis attends the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 05, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

Still, she finds joy. In 2024, she celebrated a full-circle moment — Mattel released a Barbie in her likeness. “Six-year-old Viola is squealing. 58-year-old Viola is… proud,” she wrote. It was more than a toy — it was a symbol of how far she had come.

A Voice for Change

Success has given Viola Davis a platform — and she uses it with purpose. She’s a fierce advocate for children facing hunger and poverty.

Ted Danson, Viola Davis at the Golden Gala: A Celebration of Excellence at The Beverly Hilton on January 3, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

As part of the Hunger Is campaign, she helped raise more than $4.5 million to feed children in need. “This is the richest country in the world,” she said. “No child should go to school hungry.”

In her memoir, Finding Me, Davis opened up about the trauma of her past. “I felt the absence of love,” she said. “To feel love, you have to have the hard conversations.” Writing the book helped her reclaim her narrative.

Meryl Streep, Viola Davis at the Golden Gala: A Celebration of Excellence on January 3, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

She’s especially impactful in her hometown of Central Falls, where her honesty about growing up in poverty inspires others. “Viola Davis saying, ‘I was affected by hunger,’ is incredibly powerful,” said Hugh Minor of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

From Scarcity to Fulfillment

Today, Davis lives a life filled with love and purpose. She married actor-producer Julius Tennon, and they adopted a daughter, Genesis.

Viola Davis and Julius Tennon attend the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 05, 2025. in Beverly Hills, California.

“You can be a bad actor,” she said, “but you cannot be a bad mother.” In 2020, on her 55th birthday, she purchased the run-down South Carolina home where she was born. Sharing it on Instagram, she wrote, “This is the birthplace of my story. Today… I own it.”

She often reflects on her younger self and how her journey is an act of healing. “That little girl is always with me,” she said. “I feel like I have to go back and heal her.”

Viola Davis during City Year LA’s Spring Break Destination Education on May 6, 2023 in Culver City, California | Source: Getty Images

Now, from a once-condemned home filled with rats to a peaceful life of abundance, Davis never forgets where she came from — and that gratitude shines through every step she takes.