Oprah Winfrey Recounts Steven Spielberg’s Outburst on the Set of ‘The Color Purple’ on ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’: “I Was a Novice in Filmmaking”

Oprah Winfrey and Drew Barrymore, both renowned talk show hosts, share another similarity – they made their feature film debuts under the guidance of Steven Spielberg.

During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Winfrey reminisced about the time Spielberg reprimanded her for looking directly into the camera during her first scene in The Color Purple in 1985.

Winfrey expressed her passion for The Color Purple, stating that she had never been involved in filmmaking but was determined to be a part of it.

On her first day on set, the seasoned journalist found herself tasked with walking into a juke joint alongside her onscreen boyfriend and delivering a greeting to Ms. Celie, portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg.

However, Spielberg quickly called her out for her habit of looking into the camera, which stemmed from her prior experience in broadcast television since the age of 19.

Recalling the incident, Winfrey said, “Steven yells, ‘Cut!

Cut!

Cut!

What are you doing?'

I replied, ‘Uh, I was just doing my lines.'

He retorted, ‘What are you doing looking in the camera?'

I asked, ‘Am I not supposed to?'

He responded, ‘No!

Ms. Celie's over here!'”

Unaware of the protocol, Winfrey admitted, “I didn't know.

I had never been on a movie set.”

Although her first day on set proved challenging, Winfrey's perseverance paid off.

She received multiple nominations for her role in The Color Purple, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.

Presently, Winfrey is eagerly anticipating the release of The Color Purple (2023), a film she co-produced with Spielberg.

Reflecting on her collaboration with the director after nearly four decades, Winfrey expressed her gratitude, saying, “It's like coming full circle!

It's incredible how life works.”

The Drew Barrymore Show airs weekdays on CBS.

Visit the website for local airtime information.