Viola Davis was among a handful of Hollywood elite who were honored for their humanitarian efforts at a luncheon in Beverly Hills on Friday. Also honored were Jan Fonda, Jennifer Lopez and Reese Witherspoon.

At the Variety Power Of Women Luncheon, Davis made quite the impact with her emotionally charged speech which spoke of her time spent growing up in poverty. The actress admitted that she had to crawl through dumpsters to look for food.

It’s pretty amazing for Davis was able to open up about her horrible childhood and explain why she was so adamant to give back now that she has found success in Hollywood.

“I sacrificed a childhood for food and grew up in immense shame,” Davis said, according to the New York Daily News. She went on to say that her work with the hunger campaign is helping her get over her own trauma as a child. Davis thanked her supporters for giving her the ability to “stand up in front of so many people, at the age of 49, and share my testimony and begin the process of healing.”

The speech Davis gave was sincere and goes to show that not every Hollywood star was plucked from a middle-class family and thrust into fame.

Witherspoon was honored for her work with the Malala Foundation. Seventeen-year-old Malala Yousafzai was herself honored on Friday with the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in standing up for children and women around the world.

Lopez’s work was also inspired by children and her goal is to help needy families receive high quality health care.