Meet Mavis McCready

In OWN's new megachurch drama Greenleaf, Oprah plays Mavis McCready, the wise and compassionate aunt of Grace Greenleaf.

In virtually every family, Oprah says, there is a “middle child” or black sheep. “Mavis is that person,” Oprah says, “and Mavis has her own way of being in the world and her own way of doing things. She’s a little eccentric and a little afro-centric. I say, ‘When you see Mavis, she’s wearing everything she owns at one time,’ so she’s got on bracelets and earrings and a belt and a necklace, you know. She loves her African ornaments and adornments and has her own nightclub because she loves jazz and blues and poetry.”

Ultimately, Mavis reminds Oprah of one of her mentors. "In my mind, she reminds me of what Maya Angelou would be if Maya Angelou ran a nightclub."

Tune in for the two-night season premiere on Tuesday, June 21 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, and Wednesday, June 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and 10 p.m. ET/PT. The remaining episodes will air regularly on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.