Whoopi Goldberg’s journey to starring in The Color Purple is a story of fate, determination, and a heartfelt letter.
In a recent interview with the Television Academy Foundation, Goldberg revealed how she first discovered Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and how it ultimately led her to the role of Celie in the 1985 film adaptation.
Goldberg recalled driving with her daughter in a Volkswagen Bug when they heard Alice Walker reading excerpts from The Color Purple on NPR. Captivated by the powerful storytelling, they immediately stopped to listen.
“My daughter and I pulled over, and we listened to this reading,” Goldberg said. Her then-10-year-old daughter was intrigued, prompting them to buy and read the book together.
Moved by the novel’s profound impact, Goldberg decided to take a bold step—writing a letter to Walker.
“I write a letter to Alice Walker, to the publisher,” she explained. “My name is Whoopi Goldberg. I’m an actor, and I do characters, and if they ever make a movie of this, I would like to play dust on the floor.”
Believing her letter might never reach Walker, Goldberg continued with her career aspirations, moving to New York to perform her one-woman show. However, upon arriving at her mother’s house, she was surprised to find a letter waiting for her—a purple envelope from Walker herself.
“I open the letter, and it says, ‘Dear Whoopi, I’m thrilled that you love the book. Quincy Jones and Steven Spielberg are probably going to be making it into a movie. I’ve already sent your stuff to them,’” she recalled.
Unbeknownst to Goldberg, Walker had already seen her performances in Oakland and was familiar with her work. That connection paved the way for Goldberg to audition and ultimately secure the lead role of Celie, a performance that would earn her an Academy Award nomination and cement her place in cinematic history.
Goldberg’s journey to The Color Purple highlights the power of passion, initiative, and serendipitous connections.
Her portrayal of Celie remains one of the most celebrated performances in film history.
