Actor Danielle Brooks Receives Casting News for "The Color Purple" Musical Adaptation

Actor Danielle Brooks received the exciting news of her casting as Sofia in the highly anticipated musical adaptation of "The Color Purple" in a unique way. She received a phone call from none other than Oprah Winfrey, the actress who previously played the iconic role.

Oprah Winfrey, who starred in the 1985 film adaptation of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, is now a producer for the new movie. She personally reached out to Brooks to share the news, emphasizing the significance of the role and the impact it had on her own life.

"In that moment, I knew I could feel it in every inch of my body my life was about to change," Brooks shared in an interview with "CBS Mornings."

Winfrey explained her decision to make the casting call herself, stating, "Sofia had been such an iconic part of me and 'The Color Purple' has been such an amazing part of my life." She wanted to personally pass the baton to Brooks and expressed her excitement and pride in seeing Brooks bring Sofia to life on screen.

The highly anticipated movie adaptation of "The Color Purple" is set to be released on Christmas Day and is already generating Oscar buzz. Brooks, known for her role in the Netflix series "Orange Is the New Black," has already received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress, further adding to the anticipation surrounding her portrayal of Sofia.

"We both hugged and cried after she finished. It is officially done. You have taken it and made it yours. It is officially done," Winfrey said.

Brooks said the completion of the movie felt like a "full circle" moment for her, from witnessing "The Color Purple" on Broadway as a teenager with her father to now embodying Sofia herself. 

Oprah's advice to Brooks, drawing from Maya Angelou's words, "I come as one, but I stand as 10,000," resonated deeply with her, Brooks said.

"I have a responsibility to all of the Sofias that are living in this world. They need a voice that needs somebody to speak for them which she was for me and now I can be for someone else," said Brooks.