Danielle Brooks dropped by Late Night With Seth Meyers December 13 to talk about her Golden Globe- and Critics Choice Award-nominated performance in the upcoming The Color Purple movie musical. Among the topics that came up were Oprah's direct line to God, an adorable video of Brooks' four-year-old daughter seeing her mom in the Color Purple trailer in a movie theatre, and some off-screen shenanigans with her on-screen co-star and former Juilliard classmate Corey Hawkins.
According to Brooks, Hawkins, who plays Harpo to Brooks' Sofia in the film, spent a little too much time at craft services, leading to a hilarious wardrobe malfunction. And Brooks has receipts—she came prepared with cell phone video footage. Watch above.
The screen version of the 2005 Broadway musical hits movie theatres December 25, and the soundtrack drops December 15.
The film is led by Broadway Color Purple alums Fantasia Barrino as Celie and Brooks as Sofia, along with Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery, Hawkins as Harpo, H.E.R. as Squeak, Halle Bailey as Young Nettie, Tony nominee Colman Domingo as Mister, Broadway The Lion King alum Phylicia Pearl Mpasi as Young Celie, Grammy winners Jon Batiste as Grady and Ciara as Adult Nettie, Tony winner David Alan Grier as Reverend Avery, Aunjanue Ellis as Celie and Nettie's mother, Elizabeth Marvel as Miss Millie, Louis Gossett, Jr. as Ol' Mister, Tamela Mann as First Lady, Deon Cole as Alfonso, Stephen Hill as Buster, Terrence J. Smith as Adam, Tiffany Elle Burgess as Olivia, and Aba Arthur as Abena.
READ: Danielle Brooks Wants Broadway to Be For Everyone, On Stage and Off
Blitz Bazawule, who co-helmed Beyoncé’s visual album Black Is King, directs, with Winfrey, Quincy Jones, Scott Sanders, and Steven Spielberg serving as producers. Marcus Gardley penned the screenplay, adapted from Marsha Norman’s stage book and Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray’s score. The stage musical was adapted from Alice Walker's 1982 Pulitzer-winning novel and its 1985 film adaptation.
The Color Purple debuted on Broadway in 2005, winning original Celie, LaChanze, a Tony Award for her performance. A 2015 revival helmed by John Doyle earned its Celie, Cynthia Erivo, a Tony Award before propelling her to Hollywood stardom. Brooks co-starred with Erivo as Sophia, the role she reprises in the upcoming movie musical.
Fantasia Barrino and Taraji P. Henson in The Color Purple
Phylicia Pearl Mpasi and Halle Bailey in The Color Purple
Cast of The Color Purple
Danielle Brooks and Corey Hawkins in The Color Purple
Blitz Bazawule, Louis Gossett Jr., H.E.R., Jon Batiste, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, and Corey Hawkins
Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, and Blitz Bazawule
Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, and Danielle Brooks
Colman Domingo
Taraji P. Henson
Danielle Brooks and Corey Hawkins
