Keke Palmer is opening up about the realities of being a child star. Source: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty The actress, host, and singer spoke about her upbringing during a recent interview with Variety, describing her early life in a small Illinois suburb that she described as a low-income "food desert." Palmer started her acting career early, becoming famous as a child following breakout roles in the 2006 film Akeelah and the Bee and the 2008-11 Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP. "Being an artist became a way out for my family," she told the outlet.