Name: Finding Me
ISBN: 9780063037328

Viola Davis

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. Hers is a story of overcoming, a true hero's journey. Deeply personal, brutally honest, and riveting, Finding Me is a timeless and spellbinding memoir that will capture hearts and minds around the globe.

A Memoir

Finding Me

Sasha

Years later, a conversation I had on the set of Suicide Squad with Will Smith was an "aha" moment. Will asked me, "Viola, who are you?"

"What does that mean? I know who I am," I replied with indignant confidence.

"Look, I'm always going to be that fifteen-year-old boy whose girlfriend broke up with him. That's always going to be me. So, who are you?"

Who am I? I was quiet, and once again that indestructible memory hit me. Then I just blurted it out. "I'm the little girl who would run after school every day in third grade because these boys hated me because I was... not pretty. Because I was... Black."

Will stared at me as if seeing me for the first time and just nodded. My throat got tight and I could feel the tears welling up. Memories are immortal. They're deathless and precise. They have the power of giving you joy and perspective in hard times. Or, they can strangle you. Define you in a way that's based more in other people's tucked-up perceptions than truth.

There I was, a working actress with steady gigs, Broadway credits, multiple industry awards, and a reputation of bringing professionalism and excellence to any project. Hell, Oprah knew who I was. Yet, sitting there conversing with Will Smith, I was still that little, terrified, third-grade Black girl. And though I was many years and many miles away from Central Falls, Rhode Island, I had never stopped running. My feet just stopped moving.

Joan

Memories are immortal. They're deathless and precise. They have the power of giving you joy and perspective in hard times. Or, they can strangle you. Define you in a way that's based more in other people's tucked-up perceptions than truth.

I am a dark-skinned woman. Culturally, there is a spoken and unspoken narrative rooted in Jim Crow. It tells us that dark-skinned women are simply not desirable. All the attributes that are attached to being a woman- desirable, vulnerable, needing to be rescued- don't apply to us. In the past we've been used as chattel, fodder for inhumane experimentation, and it has evolved into invisibility. How it plays out in entertainment is that we are relegated to best friends, to strong, loudmouth, sassy lawyers, and doctors. 

We are there as eye-rolling, ambiguous sidekicks. It sends a clear message that we, as a society, believe the lie that has been fed to us.

Nadine MacDonald

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. Hers is a story of overcoming, a true hero’s journey. Deeply personal, brutally honest, and riveting, Finding Me is a timeless and spellbinding memoir that will capture hearts and minds around the globe.

erin

i think i cried for like 90% of this book

Joana Mae

It is astonishing to listen to the audiobook narrated by the author herself, Viola Davis.<br /><br />It deservedly won the 2023 Grammy for 'Best Audiobook Narration and Storytelling Recording'.

Camilla

Angelyn Francis

I could not put it down and read it in 4 days (quick for me). What a life.

Pratik M

Powerful stuff. And I love her voice. I would listen to her reading a grocery list.

woah. completely speechless. loved 🖤🤍

Sadie Hoffman

Such an amazing storyteller!! Hearing Viola talk about her upbringing and where she got despite it was so emotional, feel super attached to her as a person now 🥹

Emma Freeman

brooklyn leota

Wow, i’ve read a fair few memoirs in the past year but that has to be my favourite. 

Viola Davis is amazing, her struggle growing up to where she is now is beyond. I knew from the first chapter that it might stand as the best memoir I’ve read and it stayed true to it. I have so much respect for a woman like her. It was intense to get an insight of her making a name for herself but wow. She deserves the whole damn world

Ana Luiza

Acho que essa mulher aqui é a maior entre nós. 
Isso aqui devia ser leitura obrigatória. Ensina mais sobre racismo, feminilidade e machismo do que qualquer outra obra que já vi.

Bethany s. 

Truly worth ten reads. Enlightening, inspiring, devastating, painful, and moving. Viola manages to open the doors to exploring the intricacies of racism in a welcoming, inviting, and honest way. I’m convinced the only way to read this is via audiobook, recorded by Viola herself. The performance is enrapturing. Thank you, Viola Davis, for opening your heart to us.

Viola Davis is one of my favorite actresses. She is such a magnetic force of a woman. She wears her womanness and blackness openly and proudly with such power and confidence. Reading this book further helped me to understand how she got there. She lived a very rough early life and was determined to break into success. Talent and grit launched her there. I love that her first point of big success for her was around age 25. At 26 I often feel so behind but knowing a woman as successful and profound as her still just begun at around my age gives me so much inspiration.

Selena Rivera

Usually I stick to romance audiobooks, but after hearing the acclaims of this, I wanted to give it a shot. Oh. My. Gosh. Viola Davis is phenomenal and this is the best audiobook I have ever listened to. To hear the stories of her childhood was heartbreaking but also a tale of her incredible fortitude. I honestly wish this was longer, I wanted to know more stories later on in life and I wanted to hear more about her relationship with her daughter and how her childhood has shaped that. One thing that stood out to me is that despite poverty and inhumane conditions, Viola always had support. She had the support of her family, friends, and advisors along the way. Despite describing herself as shy, her courage and confidence shined bright. When I first watched How to Get Away With Murder, I didn’t think about the things Viola brought up about the prominence of dark skinned middle aged women of color being main characters on TV. It made me extra aware that representation is still a battle constantly fought and rarely won today. 

Syrina

Wow wow wow. It’s hard to even have words for this masterpiece. Viola Davis gives you a front row seat to her life entire in this beautifully raw memoir. There are too many profound things she reflected on to name. If you’re ready for a true story of triumph and resilience mixed with a lot of heart and passion, give this show-stopper a read/listen. 

Angie Van Sprang

Coming back to give this a written review weeks later. I cannot stop thinking about this book and how powerful it was. 

Viola Davis is incredibly brave as she tells her story. She has always been an incredible actress but listening to her speak everything she has gone through to get where she is… is breathtaking. 

🌞Laur🌞

Coming back to give this a written review weeks later. I cannot stop thinking about this book and how powerful it was. 

Viola Davis is incredibly brave as she tells her story. She has always been an incredible actress but listening to her speak everything she has gone through to get where she is… is breathtaking. 

Alexa M

"I knew my life would be a fight, and I realized this: I had it in me."  

 wow!!!!  Viola Davis is powerful, beautiful, and strong. the shit she went through was absolutely heartbreaking to hear. this was a wonderful, moving, devastating, and engaging memoir and I highly recommend it! the audiobook is read by Davis and makes it that much better, i'd really suggest checking that out.

Finding Me A Memoir

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