{"id":6234,"date":"2026-02-04T13:34:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T13:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/?p=6234"},"modified":"2026-02-04T13:34:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T13:34:06","slug":"this-girl-grew-up-in-poverty-with-5-siblings-surrounded-by-rats-without-electricity-today-shes-a-famous-tv-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/?p=6234","title":{"rendered":"This Girl Grew up in Poverty with 5 Siblings, Surrounded by Rats &#038; Without Electricity \u2013 Today, She\u2019s a Famous TV Star"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The only surviving photo from her childhood is a kindergarten picture \u2014 a solemn image of a girl who, even at that young age, understood what it meant to have less than others. Today, she is not just a celebrated actress but also a voice for those who share her difficult beginnings.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\"><\/div>\n<p>Her childhood was marked by deprivation and hardship. With her parents barely scraping by on factory and stable jobs, the family of eight relied on food stamps, which often ran out before the month was over. Hunger was a constant companion, and school lunches were her only reliable meals.<\/p>\n<p>Their home was plagued by harsh winters, frozen pipes, and rats that swarmed at night. Despite these conditions, she refused to let her environment determine her future. Instead, she nurtured a dream of breaking free, using education and creativity to fuel her journey toward a brighter tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.amomama.com\/52a247c1ecfbcecd8db6da8cd9fbeff2fb13872dfa247ad2c167dd5079cc3b8e.jpg\" alt=\"The actress attends the Disney and Miramax Oscar Nominees Celebration on February 21, 2009 | Source: Getty Images\" \/><\/p>\n<p>She was born 59 years ago in a one-room shack on her grandmother\u2019s farm in South Carolina, a property that had once been a plantation. Her family moved to Central Falls, Rhode Island, hoping for a better life, but poverty followed them.<\/p>\n<p>They lived in a condemned building with no working plumbing, no heat during the winter, and a constant infestation of rats. Food insecurity defined much of her childhood. After the food stamps ran out, she and her siblings scavenged in garbage bins for food or stole from stores.<\/p>\n<p>At nine years old, she was caught stealing, and the shame stayed with her for years. \u201cThe store owner screamed at me to get out, looking at me like I was nothing,\u201d she recalled. For years, school lunch was often her only reliable meal.<\/p>\n<p>Rats were another grim reality of her childhood. They chewed through toys and sometimes leaped onto beds at night. To protect themselves, she and her siblings tied rags around their necks while they slept.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fviola.davis%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02VsFgtyJZYiEo3STkj4roVKhEAFnxtcoamPg8iW24mnYWfRR3hufaxBfJHWgAMiXxl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"610\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Amid the relentless challenges, she dreamt of a life where she would be seen, valued, and no longer be defined by poverty. Her school offered the structure and hope she needed to dream beyond her circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>Resilience Through Education and Performance<br \/>\nDespite the challenges at home, school became a refuge for her. She excelled academically and found joy in extracurricular activities. She and her siblings rarely missed a day, immersing themselves in sports, drama, and music to escape the harsh realities of their home life.<\/p>\n<p>Her passion for performing began at age seven when she and her sisters entered a local talent show. They wrote skits, created makeshift costumes, and performed with enthusiasm. She joined the Upward Bound program, which prepared students from low-income families for college.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, she earned a scholarship to Rhode Island College, where she majored in theater. One of her professors saw extraordinary potential in her, later stating that she \u201cwas a talent that doesn\u2019t come down the pike very often.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After college, she auditioned for Juilliard, one of the most prestigious performing arts schools in the world. Out of 2,500 applicants, she secured one of just 14 coveted spots. Her acceptance into Juilliard marked a major turning point in her life, setting the stage for her rise to stardom.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fviola.davis%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0zCktkuZzB2yzp5meEk64Hqt5CqgMzM91eVz9fKJdNSrgC1aswCPnootd7UWamPngl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"609\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Her time at Juilliard honed her craft and prepared her for the competitive entertainment industry. After graduating, she began working in theater and quickly made a name for herself.<\/p>\n<p>At 29, she earned her first Tony Award nomination for her performance in August Wilson\u2019s play \u201cSeven Guitars.\u201d She described opening night as a defining moment, \u201cMy mom and dad were in the audience, and my dad cried. I thought, \u2018I\u2019ve arrived. This is it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her talent and dedication caught the attention of Hollywood. She transitioned to film and television, delivering critically acclaimed performances in roles that connected her with audiences. In 2008, she earned her first Oscar nomination for her role in \u201cDoubt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her powerful performance in \u201cThe Help\u201d (2011) followed, garnering another nomination. In 2015, she broke barriers by becoming the first Black woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in \u201cHow to Get Away with Murder.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She later won an Oscar for her role in \u201cFences\u201d (2016), cementing her status as one of the most respected actresses of her generation. While her achievements on stage and screen were groundbreaking, she used her platform for more than just acting.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.amomama.com\/35218531e54636a3db9b7dcc040d58d0221c619ba9b6cfbcf981b77cb4ca0083.jpg\" alt=\"The actress wins the award for Actress in a Supporting Role for &quot;Fences,&quot; on February 26, 2017 | Source: Getty Images\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Her success in Hollywood has allowed Viola Davis to shine a light on the very struggles she endured growing up. She has become a passionate advocate for combating childhood hunger and poverty.<\/p>\n<p>Through her work with the Hunger Is campaign, she helped raise over $4.5 million to ensure children have access to nutritious meals. \u201cThis is the richest country in the world,\u201d she said. \u201cThere\u2019s no reason kids should be going to school hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Davis has also been candid about the emotional scars left by her upbringing. In her memoir, \u201cFinding Me,\u201d she delves into the shame and trauma she carried from those early years. \u201cWhat I felt was a complete absence of love,\u201d she explained. \u201cTo feel love, you have to have the hard conversations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Writing the book, she said, was her way of reclaiming her story and refusing to suppress her truth. Her advocacy has made a significant impact, particularly in her hometown of Central Falls, Rhode Island.<\/p>\n<p>Hugh Minor, spokesperson for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, praised her efforts, saying, \u201cIt is so powerful for Viola Davis to say, \u2018I was affected by hunger\u2014and many people still are.\u2019 It really is a rallying call for people to do something.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As Davis continues to break barriers and inspire change, she has also achieved what once seemed impossible \u2014 a life filled with stability, love, and fulfillment.<\/p>\n<p>From living in a condemned building with rats to sitting in her jacuzzi and opening her Sub-Zero refrigerator, she acknowledges her journey with deep gratitude.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The only surviving photo from her childhood is a kindergarten picture \u2014 a solemn image of a girl who, even at that young age, understood what it meant to have &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6234","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6234"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6234\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6235,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6234\/revisions\/6235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6234"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6234"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}