00:00Viola Davis grew up in the town of Central Falls, Rhode Island.
00:03She was one of six kids, and the family struggled hard just to get by.
00:07Having come from such humble beginnings makes the down-to-earth actress even more grateful
00:12for where she is today.
00:13I can't believe my life, you know?
00:16I grew up in poverty, you know?
00:18I grew up in apartments that were condemned and rat-infested,
00:23and I just always sort of wanted to be somebody.
00:26She always loved performing, though, whether it was school plays
00:30or just making up skits with her sisters.
00:32Being poor, they were always looking for something to do,
00:35and Davis would sign up for theater classes at the local community center.
00:39Viola went on to study at the prestigious Juilliard School
00:41and was soon a regular on the stage and on screens both big and small,
00:46building up to her breakout role in 2008's Doubt.
00:49She's quickly become one of the most acclaimed performers of her generation,
00:52the first black actress to earn three Academy Award nominations
00:56and the first black person of either gender to win an Oscar, a Tony, and an Emmy.
01:00In 2003, Davis wed actor Julius Tennant.
01:04They also run a production company together and have worked hard to give back
01:08to Viola's hometown of Central Falls, contributing to the library
01:12and the high school theater program, of course,
01:14as well as charities working to eliminate hunger and provide affordable health care.
01:18because it's so ideal.
01:18Uh yeah.
01:18That's incredible.
01:19I'm losing the planes for all the players,
01:19So David, Dennis, I'm with for kids.
01:19So our team will begin by talking tomorrow now,
01:19Well, come back throng,
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