Soul Work // Viola Davis' "Finding Me"

How do we choose grace and compassion?
 
Viola Davis begins her memoir with a startling opening—"c***sucker, motherf*****r"—immediately signaling to my friend, Ngoc Anh and me that this won't be a sanitized Hollywood autobiography!!! What follows is a soul-baring journey that traces her path from extreme poverty to becoming one of the most celebrated actresses of our time.

The raw honesty with which Viola describes her childhood is breathtaking. Growing up in Central Falls, Rhode Island, she and her family lived in a condemned building with holes in the walls, no consistent plumbing, and rat infestations. She details the shame of going to school in unwashed clothes, being bullied relentlessly, and experiencing the "one-two punch that is blackness and poverty." These early experiences shaped her profoundly, as did the domestic violence she witnessed between her parents and the sexual abuse she and her sisters endured. Yet somehow, Viola finds compassion for everyone in her story, including her alcoholic father who had only a fifth-grade education.

Viola's discovery of acting came like a thunderbolt when she watched Cicely Tyson in "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman." She describes it as a supernatural experience that finally showed her a way out of her circumstances. Her journey through Juilliard and into Hollywood brought its own challenges, as she confronted an industry that pigeonholed dark-skinned Black women. From her breakout role in "Doubt" to her Emmy-winning performance in "How to Get Away with Murder," Davis reveals the work and luck behind her success, including creating a 100-page biography for a character with just one scene.

Throughout, Viola weaves profound insights about healing, forgiveness, and authenticity. She articulates how forgiveness became "giving up all hope of a different past" and how her most painful experiences became her "warrior fuel." When asked how she clawed her way out of poverty, she responds powerfully: "There is no out. Every painful memory, every mentor, every friend and foe served as a chisel that has shaped me."

Ready to be transformed by a story of resilience that will change how you view your own past? Listen now and discover why Viola Davis's journey to "finding me" speaks so deeply to anyone who's ever struggled to own their full story.

Listener discretion advised: this episode contains adult language and sensitive discussion topics including sexual assault

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Link to this episode’s book:
Finding Me by Viola Davis

Other ways to support/connect with Viola Davis:
Viola Davis IMDB
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Transcripts are available through apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. 

This episode is produced, recorded, and edited by me.

Theme song by Devin Kennedy

Special thanks to my dear friend, Ngoc Anh. You’re m

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Viola Davis's Memoir
• 3:19 Quick Topics: Bullying and Childhood Trauma plus WHO ARE YOU?
• 17:23 Family Dynamic and Generational Trauma
• 30:40 Growing Up Poor: The Realities of Poverty
• 36:50 Discovering Acting as Escape and Purpose
• 38:48 Racial Identity at Julliard and in Hollywood
• 44:39 Finding Love and Purpose Through Self-Work