Oprah Winfrey Explains Why She Agreed to ‘Selma’ After Turning Down Role
”The reason I said yes to this role is because of the magnificence of Annie Lee Cooper,“ TV titan says about the real-life Civil Rights activist she portrays
It took more than just pleas from “Selma” director Ava DuVernay to convince Oprah Winfrey to join the film’s cast. In fact, the TV mogul and actress said it was a story about the real-life Civil Rights activist she portrays that finally persuaded her to change her mind.
Winfrey explained in an E! video why she finally came around: “The reason I said yes to this role is because of the magnificence of Annie Lee Cooper,” she said. “And what her courage meant to an entire movement.”
In the film, Cooper’s voting registration is denied. She joins the tense marches alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) demanding voting rights for blacks in 1965 Alabama. In an incident Cooper is known for, she defends a fellow marcher by punching Selma Sheriff Jim Clark in the jaw.
“Having people look at you and not see you as a human being — she just got tired of it,” Winfrey said of Cooper. “You cannot know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been.”
Something else that concerned Winfrey was getting physical in yet another role; in 1985, she portrayed the hardened Sofia, who lands in jail after slugging the town’s mayor, in the “The Color Purple.”
But it was DuVernay’s persistence that got her to come around.
“Ava sent me [a story] from Google about the real Annie Lee Cooper that said she watched the Oprah show every day. Not only watched, but watched it with a tuna fish sandwich — which is exactly how I would want to watch it,” Winfrey revealed.
“Ava said, ‘What do you think it would mean to this woman who watched you every day?'” Winfrey continued. “She got me! She got me. So, it was like, ‘Yeah, maybe I’ll do that.'”
During TheWrap’s screening of “Selma” earlier this month, DuVernay credited Oyelowo with coaxing Winfrey to also act as a producer on the film. The TV titan and Oyelowo have a bit of history together: He portrayed Winfrey’s son in Lee Daniels‘ film “The Butler” in 2013.
“Selma” recently earned four Golden Globe nominations including a best director nod for DuVernay, making her the first African-American woman ever nominated in the category.
The film is currently playing in limited release and expands nationwide Jan. 9, 2015.
15 Movies You Already Forgot About: TheWrap's Best & Worst 2014 (Photos)
"I, Frankenstein": Alternatively titled, "I, Forgot This Move Ever Existed," the modern take on Mary Shelley's horror icon is most memorable for being a bad idea star Aaron Eckhart probably already turned into a repressed memory.
Lionsgate
"The Monuments Men": What happens when director and star George Clooney recruits acting titans Bill Murray, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman and recent Best Actor Oscar winner Jean Dujardin to make a World War II drama? Critics write bad reviews, and the Nazis lose, or something. It's hard to remember more than that, since Clooney's BFF Brad Pitt put out a much better entry in the same genre eight months later.
Columbia Pictures
"Pompeii": This Carrie-Ann Moss and Kit Harington disaster flick about ancient Rome feels like ancient history, but it actually hit theaters in Feb. 2014. We're sure Sony Picture Entertainment would love for all traces of the seismic flop to be buried under a mountain of ash -- much like Pompeii was itself -- and permanently forgotten.
Sony Pictures
"The Pyramid": This found-footage thriller was dead upon arrival when it opened wide on Dec. 12. Fortunately for first-time director Gregory Levasseur, he wrote the screenplays for "High Tension" and "The Hills Have Eyes" remake, which will hold a place in horror history for years to come.
Twentieth Century Fox
"Men, Women & Children": Director Jason Reitman earned rave reviews for "Thank You for Smoking," "Juno" and "Up in the Air." His latest effort, however, failed to impress critics. Even the trailer failed to impress viewers, because it only grossed $1.7 million worldwide.
Paramount Pictures
"The Legend of Hercules": Not one but two movies about legendary Greek mythology hero Hercules came out this year, but neither made much of a splash. Kellan Lutz never had a chance with "The Legend of Hercules," which had a January release, but maybe he can rest easy knowing that even Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's August "Hercules" came and went without anyone noticing.
Summit Entertainment
"Need for Speed": A popular video game franchise, cool car chase and Jesse Pinkman from "Breaking Bad" sure seemed like a recipe for success, but the video game adaptation failed to create much excitement amongst any of the various fan groups that DreamWorks and Disney were banking on.
Walt Disney
"Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit": Tom Clancy's famous literary spy Jack Ryan has been on screen so many times -- played by A-list leading men Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin and Ben Affleck -- that a new iteration seemed inevitable. But then director Kenneth Branagh's reboot starring Chris Pine came and went without many people noticing. Expect another reboot before you see a sequel.
Paramount Pictures
"Blended": Third time was definitely not the charm for Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. While the Warner Bros. comedy tripled its budget at the box office, it will only be remembered for being one of Sandler's worst comedies yet, providing audiences didn't immediately wipe it from their memory when they walked out of the theater.
Warner Bros.
"Walk of Shame": Elizabeth Banks should actually be grateful that this movie has already escaped the minds of moviegoers, because the reviews weren't just bad -- they were atrocious.
Focus Features
"Into the Storm": Who can forget that flying cow in "Twister"? The giant tidal wave crushing Téa Leoni in "Deep Impact"? Or Steven Tyler's vocals in "Armageddon"? Now who can remember the names of the actors that ventured "Into the Storm" for Warner Bros. last summer?
Warner Bros.
"As Above, So Below": You can't tell from the title, but this is a found footage horror movie about people exploring the catacombs beneath the streets of Paris. And if you didn't know that, then you can probably also tell it didn't do very well in theaters.
Universal Pictures
"Brick Mansions": People are too busy looking forward to seeing Paul Walker's final performance in "Furious 7" to remember his in the American remake of French action flick "District B13."
Relativity Media
"Before I Go to Sleep": This psychological thriller boasted a star-studded cast, including Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth and Mark Strong, yet it only made $15 million worldwide when released in October.
Clarius Entertainment
"The Good Lie": This Warner Bros. release starring Reese Witherspoon actually earned rave reviews. Too bad it only earned $2.6 million at the box office. Luckily, Witherspoon managed to generate some awards buzz and secure a Golden Globe nomination for a different drama the critics loved.
Warner Bros.
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Remember when Aaron Eckhart played Frankenstein’s monster? Neither do we
"I, Frankenstein": Alternatively titled, "I, Forgot This Move Ever Existed," the modern take on Mary Shelley's horror icon is most memorable for being a bad idea star Aaron Eckhart probably already turned into a repressed memory.