The Oprah Winfrey-produced The Color Purple musical is a homage to the original released in 1985. Though this reimagined film has new actors, there’s one familiar face that was kept as an easter egg for the audience.
In the adaptation of Alice Walker’s classic novel of the same name, the 1985 film starred Whoopi Goldberg who played Celie, a poor Black woman surviving abuse and bigotry. The film, directed by Steven Spielberg, earned Goldberg an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. After nearly 40 years, Goldberg has returned to the story through a cameo role in the musical film. In this version, she is cast as a midwife who aids young Celie, portrayed by Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, to give birth to her second child. Though brief, her appearance marks a symbolic moment that commemorates her role as Celie 40 years ago. Director Blitz Bazawule admitted to keeping it a surprise for the audience. “We had to be stealthy about her involvement from the beginning,” he tells Variety, “Only key crew were aware that Whoopi was playing the role. We also never mentioned her in any press and she remained uncredited for the role.”
Winfrey was also excited about the decision to have Goldberg back so much that she declined her own cameo just because “it’s more special that it’s just Whoopi,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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