Original-Cin Q&A: Fantasia Barrino on the Healing Properties of Playing Celie in The Color Purple
By Bonnie Laufer
The latest version of The Color Purple to hit the big screen is based on the stage musical of the same name, which in turn is based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker.
The story involves the traumatic struggles of a young African American woman living in the South during the early 1900s. The film stars Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, and Fantasia Barrino in her film debut as the lead character, Celie.
Our Bonnie Laufer caught up with Fantasia Barrino to talk about her big screen debut and how it differs from the stage performance.
The Color Purple opens in theaters on Christmas Day
Fantasia Barrino as Celie in The Color Purple.
To watch Bonnie’s Interview with Taraji P. Henson, click HERE.
To watch Bonnie’s Interview with Danielle Brooks, click HERE.
ORIGINAL-CIN: How much harder was it taking Celie from the Broadway stage and playing her for the screen?
FANTASIA BARRINO: It was very hard. It was very different, because as you know Broadway is really quick. Once the play starts moving, it’s full speed ahead. You have time to live with it, but you really don't, if you know what I mean.
Being on set, in front of the cameras, and when they're yelling action, was a whole new experience for me. I can’t thank director Blitz Bazawule enough for his guidance and patience, and being in the presence of actors like Colman Domingo, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, was a gift. I was in the midst of real actors who helped me through this performance. I lived it, I felt it.
There were moments that Blitz let things breathe. He trusted what I was doing, and I was scared with this being my first big movie. I felt like when he would yell action, all I could think of was, where do I look? What should I do?
But having so many great people around me and actually watching all of us switch into our roles and live in it made it easier. It was very different working on the film. I lived in it, it felt more real and that was something that I had to really get used to for six months.
O-C: Celie is such an extraordinary character with an amazing arc. She changes so much from beginning to end. How did she change you?
BARRINO: Good question. Okay, I'm going to keep it very honest and real, because that's all I know how to do. Before they called me for the film role I had just started doing traumatic therapy. Now traumatic therapy is when they go back into your childhood, and try to help you heal certain things that may be hindering you in the way of your adulthood.
So I had to stop that in order for me to play Celie. My therapist would text me a lot and say, “I'm kind of feeling like we should do some sessions.” And I told her, “We can't do any sessions.”
O-C: That had to have been a very difficult decision.
BARRINO: It was, but I felt so strongly that Celeie was my healer through that time. We were at CinemaCon in Vegas earlier this year, and someone asked me, “What do you think this movie is going to do?”
I said, “I don't think - I know what it’s going to do. It's going to heal people because it healed me.”
Now people were thinking, “Wait, you've been healed. You're married. You're happy. We've been watching you.” I could only reply with, “You don't understand. I had to stop traumatic therapy and the things that I was starting to work on with a younger Fantasia, and give a younger Fantasia over to Celie.” It wasn’t easy, but amazingly I did it.
O-C: The character of Shug Avery (played by Taraji P. Henson) helps other women, namely Celie, embrace how strong they can be. Fantasia who has done that for you?
BARRINO: You’re going to make me cry. That's got to be my mother and my grandmother.
My grandmother has gone home to be with the Lord now, but she was my number one fan. I could call her when it seemed like everything was going wrong. I can't call her now but I can hear her. That’s when you know you have a powerful woman in your life. She's not on Earth but the words that she said, the wisdom that she dropped with me, still lives in my heart and it still lives in my ear.
My mother is also a strong presence in my life. My mother is my best friend. She is a real life Celie and I watched her growing up going through so many things.
I look at her now and I think she's growing backwards. She’s a real life Benjamin Button. She looks good, she’s strong and she's a classy queen. I watched my mother go through things, but she never gave up on people. Even when people who did her wrong. She’s my inspiration. So I'm going to give it up to my mother and my grandmother.