Taraji P. Henson is ready for the narrative surrounding “The Color Purple” to change.
Recently, her comments about her experience with pay disparity in Hollywood — and the revelation that she nearly turned down the Broadway musical adaptation because she felt lowballed — went viral. Now, Henson is asking that attention return to the film, which was released on Christmas.
“I hope they can focus back onto this film, because right now, to me, it feels like what I said is now becoming louder than this beautiful film,” Henson tells TODAY.com, while promoting her Always Discreet brand partnership.
“And that’s not fair to me, or anybody in the film,” Henson continues, “because the film deals with women who are oppressed — who live in an oppressed system. Men and women. And all the characters in that film except for the white people. So that movie is about healing. That movie is about sisterhood.”
In the Blitz Bazawule-directed adaptation of Alice Walker’s classic novel, Henson stars as Shug Avery, a charismatic blues singer. Shug ends up saving the film’s central character, Celie (Fantasia Barrino) from future abuse by her husband Mister (Colman Domingo) — while also introducing her to the thralls of romantic love.
While the film centers on Celie’s journey of self-discovery, it also highlights the bond between women as they deal with their own struggles and trauma.
In a Jan. 4 interview with W magazine, Henson said one of the most striking things in “The Color Purple” was the “angle of sisterhood.”
“Because if women stick together, we can change the world,” she said.
Henson has also been very vocal about the sisterhood felt between actors during filming, telling The New York Times in a Jan. 5 interview that she and Barrino supported each other on set.
“I’m very confident in my acting because I do the work, but I was nervous about my singing. Fantasia’s…
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