Award-winning actress and singer Danielle Brooks joins us to discuss her journey, career and her Oscar nominated performance as Sofia in the highly acclaimed film “The Color Purple.”
Warner Bros. Pictures invites you to experience the extraordinary sisterhood of three women who share one unbreakable bond in “The Color Purple.” This bold new take on the beloved classic is directed by Blitz Bazawule and produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones.
Danielle Brooks’ immense talent and dedication to her craft continues to pave a way for diversity and inclusion on stage and on screen.
She currently stars in “The Color Purple,” the Warner Bros. feature film adaption of the distinguished Broadway musical. Danielle reprises her iconic role of ‘Sofia,’ portraying another powerhouse, memorable performance that has garnered her Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award, SAG Award, BAFTA Film Award, and Academy Award nominations for “Best Supporting Actress.”
Danielle first played Sofia when she made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning revival of The Color Purple musical, for which she earned a Tony Award nomination, a Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award. She also received a Grammy Award and a Theatre World Award for "Significant Broadway Debut."
Most recently, Danielle starred in August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play The Piano Lesson opposite Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington and directed by LaTanya Richardson Jackson. For her performance, she earned nominations for a Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Award. She also recently starred in James Gunn’s HBO Max and DC spinoff television series Peacemaker alongside John Cena, Viola Davis, and a hilarious ensemble cast.
Brooks rose to prominence for her portrayal of “Taystee” on the popular Netflix series Orange Is The New Black, for which she was nominated for anNAACP Image Award.Furthermore, Brooks was the recipient of the Young Hollywood Award for "Breakthrough Actress”, nominated for an NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series", and received the Screen Actors Guild Award for “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series” three years in a row.
In 2019, Danielle released her four-track EP entitled Four. She co-wrote the four songs, including “Seasons,” which was featured in the series finale of Orange is the New Black. In 2022, she co-founded “Black Women on Broadway” and held its inaugural awards, which honors the legacy of Black Women’s contributions to theatre. Also in 2022, Brooks released a capsule collection with 11 Honoré. She grew up in South Carolina and is a graduate of The Juilliard School.
Moderated by Valeisha Butterfield.