Viola Davis has a new interview with Glamour Magazine, in the issue with Natalia Vodianova on the cover. While I like Natalia and I think it’s great that fashion magazines are putting models back on their covers, I tend to think Viola should get #AlltheCovers. It would amazing to see Viola on major magazine covers, like Glamour, Elle, Allure and even Vogue. How powerful would it be to see Viola on Vogue? What makes it better, of course, is that Viola is actually one of the most inspirational actresses/human beings out there today. She’s constantly doing press for her charitable work, and this Glamour interview is on behalf of her work with Hunger Is (go here to see hungeris.org). So far, Viola has personally raised $4.5 million for the child-hunger organization and she’s committed to doing more. Some highlights from Glamour:

Living on welfare as a kid: After the first-of-the-month welfare check arrived, Davis’ parents would buy groceries, yet the food would quickly disappear. “It was like, If you don’t eat it now, it’ll be gone, and you’re going to be hungry for the next—Lord, who knows how long.”

Being hungry at school: “I was always so hungry and ashamed, I couldn’t tap into my potential. I couldn’t get at the business of being me.”

Accepting her life, the success & the failure: “One thing that is missing from the vision boards is what happens when you don’t get what you want. Your ability to adapt to failure, and navigate your way out of it, absolutely 100 percent makes you who you are.”

Her work with hungeris.org: “I’m going to hit up more of my friends. This is the richest country in the world. There’s no reason kids should be going to school hungry. Food is something that everyone should have. It just is.”

Playing the now infamous wig scene in HTGAWM: “I’m finally comfortable with my story. And I finally understand what [mythologist] Joseph Campbell meant when he said: ‘The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.’”

Her words to live by: “I tell my daughter every morning, ‘Now, what are the two most important parts of you?’ And she says, ‘My head and my heart.’ Because that’s what I’ve learned in the foxhole: What gets you through life is strength of character and strength of spirit and love.

[From Glamour]

There are so few working entertainers talking about the power of failure: “Your ability to adapt to failure, and navigate your way out of it, absolutely 100 percent makes you who you are.” That’s so true. When you’re a kid, your parents probably told you that failing or losing builds character and you know what? They were right. You don’t know who you are until you’ve tried and failed at something.

As for child hunger… I couldn’t agree with her more. I’m so proud to live in a state with great funding for school breakfast and lunch programs in public schools, but much more can and should be done.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Mark Seliger/Glamour.