Oprah Winfrey is singing the praises of Fantasia Barrino, one of the stars of the upcoming movie musical “The Color Purple” — a new take on the Broadway hit based on Alice Walker’s 1982 novel of the same name.
During a virtual launch event with director Blitz Bazawule on Tuesday, Winfrey, who serves as a producer on the film, spoke about being “so deeply moved” by the former “American Idol” winner.
In the film, Fantasia plays adult Celie who, throughout her life, has suffered physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her father and others — something Fantasia herself can relate to. The actress previously channeled her own experiences while portraying Celie on Broadway in 2007, but something about making the movie seemed to have a profoundly deep effect.
