This is the path I took to finding my purpose and my strength, but also to finding my voice in a world that didn't always see me. The weight of generational trauma and having to fight for your basic needs doesn’t leave room for anything else. Career-wise, after Viola got a role in the 1998 HBO movie 'The Pentagon Wars', there was a domino effect, and more television work came along. Growing up without the tools needed to heal from her trauma, Viola struggled a lot throughout her career, From attending Juilliard, to winning her first Tony, and then to winning her first Oscar, Viola carried that broken little girl with her everywhere.

I don’t watch much TV or film so I didn’t know a lot about Viola Davis before reading this memoir, however I still enjoyed Finding Me a lot. Finding Me is Viola Davis’ story, in her own words, and spans her incredible, inspiring life, from her coming-of-age in Rhode Island to her present day.I’m baffled at just how powerful — brutal - heart wrenching- heartbreaking - heart stopping - and deeply, profoundly ‘soul’-generous Viola Davis is…. Viola prayed to meet a good man, and finally, on the set of 'City of Angels', she met Julius Tennon, whom she later married.

Viola feared an entertainment career would not help her support herself, and she didn't want to live in poverty like her parents. Thus the Davis children reeked of urine, to the point where Viola's teacher whispered in her ear one day, "You need to tell your mother to get some soap and wash you! Viola is so incredibly raw and honest when sharing stories from her childhood, her journey into being an actress, and the lessons she learned along the way as a daughter, wife, mother, and artist.

Viola Davis, an American actress and producer, is one of the few performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony (EGOT). IN MY BOOK, YOU WILL MEET a little girl named Viola who ran from her past until she made a life-changing decision to stop running forever. Viola Davis teaches us how to tackle a situation that she considers the biggest discovery in her life.

However, I imagine it’s hard to put together a memoir where your fans are curious about both of these elements of your life. This is one of my most anticipated reads, ever, because I’m such a big fan of Viola Davis, and it quickly became one of my favorite memoirs, ever.

I know much of these facts - our 40 year old daughter is a steady working actor in Hollywood since childhood]…. I’m guessing every reader will continue thinking about this book long after finishing it - certain sections more than others (all for varied reasons)…. Overall, Viola is such a strong woman, but she also shares her struggles and vulnerabilities, and how she made it to this point of stability, peace and understanding. For anyone who needs reminding that a life worth living can only be born from radical honesty and the courage to shed facades and be .

She has bared her heart to the public to be an example and to let others know it is okay to be yourself, even if that is different from whatever B. One of the many takeaways for me is the understanding of just how hard it is for actors to “make it”. Viola provides the Foreward and listening to her voice and the impact on Viola at 7 years old when she saw Cicely Tyson on television is a powerful testimonial about role models and the need to ensure diversity in arts, entertainment and all industries.An honest, unflinching, and utterly brilliant account of how one of the best actors of our time became who she is today. She narrates her truth as it is, without pomp or embellishment, in all its bare-faced and naked glory. Overall, recommended to those who are interested in memoirs about difficult families, the lives of those who work in the arts, or Viola Davis fans! I have always thought Viola Davis is a wonderful actress but after having read this, I think she is a much better person than me - or at least a more forgiving one.