Aunjanue Ellis has been added to the cast of the upcoming film adaptation of The Color Purple.The Academy Award-nominated actress will play the role of Mama, who is Celie and Nettie’s mother.
She is the embodiment of the “Great Ancestor” and the source of both of her daughter’s strength and perseverance.Ellis joins the project following the success of the highly acclaimed King Richard.
Last month, she was also an honoree at the 2022 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood ceremony, marking another high point in an already-storied career; which includes her roles in Men of Honor, Ray, If Beale Street Could Talk, and The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel.Alongside Ellis, the cast for the new version of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel features Fantasia Barrino as Celie, Danielle Brooks as Sofia, Taraji P.
Henson as Shug Avery, Colman Domingo as Mister, Corey Hawkins as Harpo, H.E.R. as Squeak, Halle as Young Nettie, Louis Gossett Jr.
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