Whoopi Goldberg’s Surprise Cameo in New Color Purple ‘Felt Like the Perfect Part,’ Says Writer

Whoopi Goldberg received an Oscar nomination for her role as Celie in 1985’s ‘The Color Purple’

Whoopi Goldberg makes a surprise appearance in the new The Color Purple.

Goldberg, 68, starred in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 movie, an adaptation of Alice Walker’s 1982 novel, as Celie Johnson.

Back on the big screen as an adaptation of the Broadway musical, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi and Fantasia Barrino now play Celie at difference stages of her life. The team behind the new version wanted the right way to include Goldberg, who earned an Oscar nomination for the original.

Early in the film, a young Celie is shown giving birth, and a midwife who assists her through the effort is played by Goldberg.

“We struggled with figuring out where it could happen and what character she would be, because the Spielberg film looms so large in our culture,” screenwriter Marcus Gardley told the Los Angeles Times. “And these actresses grew up watching these iconic roles that inspired them to become actresses themselves.”

Gardley said he chose to write Goldberg into the story as a midwife to show a passing of the torch.

“Symbolically, that felt like the perfect part because she’s the one to not only encourage her during the birth, but it’s like she herself gave birth to the role and now we see her passing it down,” he said.

Whoopi Goldberg and Margaret Avery in 1985’s ‘The Color Purple’.

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“It’s one of the most beautiful scenes because you see [Goldberg] looking upon [Mpasi] with pride and telling her, ‘You can do it,’ ” he added to the outlet.

Goldberg’s leading role in 1985’s Color Purple made for just her second onscreen credit; she has since enjoyed decades of success on the big screen as an actor, producer and a talk-show co-host on The View.

The new film’s director, Blitz Bazawule, additionally told the L.A. Times that filming her cameo moment made for humorous takes due to Goldberg’s penchant for cracking jokes.

Fantasia Barrino and Taraji P. Henson in “The Color Purple” (2023).

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“We had to stop and laugh because of everything she did, and you forget that she comes from stand-up [comedy]. But more than anything, I just remember how caring and loving she was to Phylicia,” he said.

“It was symbolic not only because of what Whoopi represents in the canon of The Color Purple, but what Whoopi represents, period — the juggernaut that she is and the doors she kicked open.”

Filmmaker Bazawule and some of the film’s cast — including Barrino, Danielle Brooks and Taraji P. Henson — recently appeared on The View to discuss the movie with Goldberg.

During their appearance, the group took a moment to applaud Goldberg for inspiring audiences for generations for her role in Spielberg’s movie.

“It’s been a brilliant Pulitzer Prize-winning book, it’s an incredible cinematic classic, and we owe you,” Bazawule said, as everyone in the show’s studio rose to applaud Goldberg.

“We would not be here without you,” Brooks told Goldberg.

The Color Purple, which is co-produced by original star Oprah Winfrey, is in theaters now.