Danielle Brooks, the actress who will play as Sofia in the new Color Purple movie, broke out into tears when she was informed about the new role she just landed. Brooks heard the news when she found herself in a surprise Zoom call with Oprah Winfrey, who is producing the movie.
The young actress was initially expecting to meet with the director of Color Purple in a virtual meeting.
"I just have my fingers crossed, palms together," Brooks said as she waited for the director to appear on her screen and deliver news about the results of the audition.
But it was Oprah who popped up on the video conference call, causing the young woman to immediately gasp.
"Hay," Oprah said as Brooks became speechless, covering her mouth with her hand.
As she was overcome with emotions, the rising star struggled to put her words together.
"I'm here representing all things purple," Oprah said during the virtual meeting. "To tell you that you are our Sofia, Sofia."
The new Color Purple star experienced more shock when Oprah pulled up her audition tapes.
"My heart is so full. Thank you," the young star said while receiving praise from Oprah.
Brooks, who earned a Tony nomination in 2016 for playing Sofia on Broadway, continued to show gratitude.
"And I tell you, Ms. Oprah, I did not get to thank you enough the first time. So, thank you," she said. "I’m so glad I get to tell you face-to-face thank you for the journey that you allowed me to have the first time."
According to Because of Them We Can, Oprah played Sofia in the 1985 adaptation of the Color Purple. Now, she's thrilled to pass the torch to the next generation of stars.
“I’m so happy to pass whatever baton from 35, almost 40 years ago, to you. And I know you’re going to kill it,” Oprah told Brooks.
The media mogul, who earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress after making her acting debuting as Sofia, said she had to call Brooks to break the news because the character is very important to her.
“I have such love for her, this character, everything she represents, and everything she brought to my life. And what I’m hoping is that she does the same thing for you,” Oprah told Brooks.
In addition to Brooks, Color Purple will feature Fantasia Taylor, Colman Domingo, Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey, Corey Hawkins, and H.E.R. Speaking with Vanity fair, Oprah said the movie will make a huge impact on the lives of the cast members.
“It has been a vehicle for magic and purpose in my life,” she said. “I don’t know anybody who’s ever been associated with it whose life didn’t get enhanced. Everything comes from the original words of Alice Walker, which were grounded in love, really. Love of this community. Love of these people. Love of those characters. And that just gets passed on and passed on and passed on. I can’t wait to see this next evolvement, which is not attached to having done it the way we’ve always done it.”
The film will start shooting in Georgia in March.
