Oprah Winfrey details why she opted to not make a surprise appearance in the 2023 The Color Purple musical despite a full-circle cameo from another actress. Speaking with Nekesa Mumbi Moody at The Hollywood Reporter, the media mogul elaborated on Whoopi Goldberg‘s brief appearance in the Blitz Bazawule-directed film.
“[We] just thought it was a wonderful Easter egg for audiences who have appreciated the film over the years, for the diehards,” detailed the 69-year-old. “And we also thought it was a lovely homage to Whoopi.”
She continued to elaborate on why she remained off camera, only acting as one of The Color Purple‘s producers.
“Actually, I thought about it, it would’ve been good in the church scene, but I thought it would also be distracting when Sofia is getting married that if the old original Sofia was just one of the people in the church, and then they were shooting that in the middle of Georgia when COVID was [spreading] like, ‘OK, well I ain’t sitting in that church all day anyway,’” explained Winfrey through laughter.
“And also I just think it’s more special that it’s just Whoopi.”
The Color Purple, which has already earned Golden Globe nominations, stars Fantasia Barrino as the adult Celie, Danielle Brooks as Sofia, Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery, and Colman Domingo as Mister. H.E.R., Ciara, Halle Bailey, Deon Cole, David Alan Grier, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor all have roles in the remake.
Released on Christmas Day, the movie dominated the box office, with its $18 million profit domestically, making it the highest-grossing Christmas Day opening since 2009 and the second-biggest debut ever. Sherlock Holmes still holds the record with $24.6 million.
Watch a trailer for The Color Purple below.