From poverty and bullying to the Oscars – the actress who refused to break

”I am the first one in my family to go to college and I felt a great responsibility… It was very expensive. The first two years it was really tough on us,” she told The Hollywood Reporter.

Robin Williams saved her

Her path changed thanks to Robin Williams. The legendary actor, a Juilliard alum, awarded her a scholarship that covered tuition, books, her apartment, and even flights home for Christmas.

”It was after my second year I found I got that scholarship… It paid for not only all my schoolwork, but it paid for my apartment, and my books, and my flight home to see my family for Christmas,” she recalled.

Though she never met him before his passing in 2014, she sent him countless letters of thanks.

After honing her craft at Juilliard, she began her career on stage and television. Her film debut came at age 31 with the drama Jolene, but it was 2011 that marked her breakout year, with six films released, including Take Shelter and The Tree of Life.Continue reading…