by Viola Davis
First published 2022
Viola Davis' path from a hardscrabble childhood in Rhode Island to the heights of Hollywood is a testament to resilience. Raised in a crumbling tenement by a mother struggling with mental illness and an abusive father, Viola vows to forge her own way. Through grit, talent, and a dream of a better life, she claws her way to Juilliard and a career on stage and screen. But the traumas of her past linger, fueling both her work and her commitment to use her voice to uplift others who've faced similar obstacles.
Genres: biography, autobiography, biography-memoir, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, rags-to-riches
Setting: Rhode Island
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
304 pages · Hardcover · HarperOne
Content warnings: abuse, mental-illness