Before becoming one of Hollywood's leading actresses, Viola Davis suffered an impoverished childhood.
The 49-year-old Oscar-nominated actress opened up about her own experience of growing up poor in Central Falls, Rhode Island and sacrificing her childhood for food, while being honored at Variety's Power of Women luncheon for her work with the Hunger Is campaign to raise awareness about hunger in the United States.
"I didn't join the Hunger Is campaign to save the world," she said. "I set out to save myself. You know, they say that you're never too old to have a happy childhood and although my childhood was filled with many happy memories, it was also spent in abject poverty."
"I was one of the 17 million kids in this country who didn't know where the next meal was coming from and I did everything to get food," she continued. "I've stolen the food, I've jumped in huge garbage bins with maggots for food, I have befriended people in the neighborhood who I knew had mothers who cooked three meals a day for food and I sacrificed a childhood for food, and grew up in immense shame."
Her experience as a child forced her to speak out against childhood hunger with hopes to eradicate the situation completely.
"I'm very honored to have this award, honestly, I didn't need it but I love it," she said. "And really, it is my honor to serve - you know, they say, 'To serve is to love,' and I think to serve is to heal, too, my life."
Other celebrities honored that night included Jennifer Lopez - who was acknowledged for her work to raise awareness of healthcare - and Reese Witherspoon, who was honored for her involvement in the educational organization established by Malala Yousafzai.
Guests included Maria Bello, Allison Janney and "Wild" author Cheryl Strayed.
