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How Whoopi Goldberg Landed the Lead in The Color Purple

Season 4 Episode 402
Aired on 06/01/2014 | CC tv-pg
Whoopi Goldberg says that after hearing Alice Walker read The Color Purple on the radio, she took it upon herself to write the author a letter informing her that if her novel were ever made into a movie, Whoopi would play "dirt on the floor." As it turns out, Alice already knew who Whoopi was—and she wanted her for a much bigger role. Watch to see why Whoopi wasn't allowed to tell anyone she had landed the leading role of Celie, and hear how she felt walking onto the set that first day.

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