Finding Me by Viola Davis
When Violas Davis was growing up in Central Falls, Rhode Island, her family was so poor that they called it "po," as if they didn't even have money for the extra letters. Her parents tried to raise their children inside a crumbling apartment, but they were always low on money and high on cock roaches. But from a very young age, Davis saw a way out through performing. She and her sister used to write and star in parodies of the game shows they saw on television, which made their family and friends laugh. The stage proved to be the lighthouse that was calling Davis' name. With scholarships and loans in hand, she went on to college and then Julliard, determined to make a name for herself. She might have spent the rest of her life as a mid-level working actor, if something magical had not happened to her. People like Shondra Rhimes started to see how special she was, and they encouraged her to rise up. She started to develop her own voice and that meant surrounding herself with people who appreciated her. Soon she was not just auditioning for roles, but others were writing parts for her. Her personal life began to improve, too. After dating badly for many years, a fellow actor told her to manifest the husband she wanted to have. She said she wanted an ex-football player, from Texas who went to church. And, sure enough, she was on the set of a television show when she met her future husband, Julius. This made her realize that you can't just do the work, you have to do the work on yourself to in order to shine. Davis was able to take the pain and poverty she experienced as a youth and turn that into strength and power on the stage and on the screen. This memoir is an inspiring look into the life of one of the most talented actresses working in Hollywood today. To buy this book on Amazon click here.