This Saturday at 8 p.m., Oprah Winfrey will host OWN Spotlight: Oprah At Home with Lupita Nyong’o and Cynthia Erivo.
Shadow And Act has an exclusive clip of Winfrey’s sit-down with Erivo, who portrays Harriet Tubman in Focus Features’ upcoming film, Harriet.
In the official description of the special, OWN says, “Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo joins Oprah to talk about her starring role in the upcoming film, Harriet. Erivo discusses her preparation to play Harriet–on a physical and spiritual level–as well as the controversy surrounding her casting in the role.”
In the clip below, Erivo addresses the controversy.
She said, “I want to say that I understand where some of it comes from. I understand that there is a lack for us as actors, as women of color, as Black actresses, when it comes to playing roles that are full and grounded and have gravitas. But I also want people to know that I worked really hard, and that nothing I’ve ever gotten has come to me without that. I want people to see it first. See it, and then make your judgments is what I’m saying. Give me a chance.”
Watch below: