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.
“[Fantasia] said this movie changed her because it allowed her to forgive,” Winfrey revealed. “She said ... ‘People coming to this movie will be healed ... because I was healed ... I came from no education. I came from sexual assault as a young girl. I came from domestic abuse and I learned through this movie that not only could I heal, but I could forgive.’”
“I think [that’s] the power that comes through [Fantasia’s performance],” Winfrey continued. “The power and energy and force of knowing that you’re representing a story that is at the heart of the need for victory in someone’s life, it’s at the heart of the need of discovering who you are, and recognizing that [even with] what you’ve been through, you are still here.”
“So when [Fantasia] sings that anthem, ‘I’m Here,’ she is speaking to everybody who’s been told no, everybody who’s been turned down, everybody who’s been turned back, everybody who’s been allowed to believe that they couldn’t make it and then they did,” she added.
Along with Fantasia, “The Color Purple” also features a star-studded cast including Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and “Little Mermaid” star Halle Bailey.
But this is not the first time the story has graced the big screen. Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was originally made into a movie in 1985, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Winfrey in the role of Sofia (played in the upcoming adaptation by Danielle Brooks).
The project marked Winfrey’s movie debut — before she became a household name — and netted her first and only Oscar nomination. Since then, the billionaire media mogul has continued to champion the female-focused story.
“This story just grows, and it never grows old,” she said, explaining how “The Color Purple” remains relevant because of the eternal need for self-discovery, self-empowerment and victory.
Calling Bazawule’s latest take “a revival for joy,” Winfrey said, “I could just cry thinking about what [he] has done with this new iteration. Because it is a classic, it is iconic. And to be able to step into that with the boldness of vision that he’s had with this film, and create this magically realized version where we actually go inside Celie’s head is pretty incredible.”
“The Color Purple” hits theaters on Christmas Day.
