Steven Spielberg’s 1985 movie adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel “The Color Purple,” thrust Oprah Winfrey into the mainstream spotlight. Decades later, the billionaire media mogul still expresses her gratitude for being offered the role.
“I can’t even begin to tell you what it means to me — a person who wanted nothing more in my life than to be in The Color Purple. And God taught me to surrender — that was the big lesson for me,” she shared in a sitdown with Essence Magazine. “They were only offering $35,000 to be in this film, and it is the best $35,000 I ever earned. It changed everything and taught me so much. It is God moving through my life.”
In the movie, Winfrey played Sofia, who was forced into a life of servitude after turning down a white woman’s request for her to nanny her children.
Spielberg’s film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Whoopi Goldberg.
Winfrey was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal. Magaret Avery, who portrayed Shug Avery, was also nominated for the same award.
A film version of the musical starring Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson and H.E.R. is slated for release on Christmas Day.
This is what it looks like when you put sisterhood, talent, and immeasurable joy in one room! @Oprah Winfrey, @tarajiphenson, @TasiasWord, @thedanieb & @HERMusicx take center stage as ‘The Color Purple’ cast graces the cover of our November/December issue. #ESSENCE
— ESSENCE (@Essence) October 17, 2023
Read the… pic.twitter.com/alJrQP9ZOT
Winfrey hailed the upcoming flick as “a full-circle moment.”
“To have all of you beautiful Black women bearing witness to the story, as the story moves forward, means so much. I believe that what Fantasia (Barrino) has said is true: Everybody who comes to see our film is going to be touched. They will be moved. And they will be healed. So thank you for the blessing,’ she told the cast of Blitz Bazawule-directed film.
