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EXCLUSIVE: Oprah Winfrey is in talks to star for HBO Films in Ruined, an adaptation of Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Ruined, which won an array of awards during its 2009 off-Broadway run, focuses on a brothel in war-torn Congo and the struggles of its madam, Mama Nadi, to keep herself and the women working for her from getting caught between the government and rebel armies. Nottage is writing the script and Oprah Winfrey and Kate Forte will be executive producers.
Ruined has been a top priority project for Harpo since Winfrey and Forte moved the company over from ABC to HBO. They have set up several projects so far, including a 7-hour miniseries adaptation of America: In the King Years, based on the Taylor Branch book trilogy. Winfrey, who last played an onscreen starring role in the 1998 Jonathan Demme-directed Beloved, attached herself earlier this fall to an untitled feature comedy with Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock that is being written and will be directed by Sex and the City‘s Michael Patrick King for Universal Pictures.
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As a black woman, I find it endlessly irritating that despite all of her success, Oprah Winfrey STILL wants to be a movie star. There’s a long list of black actresses—with significantly more acting skills and talent— who would jump at the chance to play a role like this as a nice change from their usual of wives, mothers, girlfriends and the white female lead’s best friend.
I will not be watching.
I agree with Marie, seriouly, she’s not a good actress. She’s a good producer. And because she is “Queen” oprah she can do whatever she wants in media, but it doesn’t mean the public will follow her.
If she wants to act, then go do it on the stage and see how the audience reacts.
With her ever-expanding fame and fortune, let’s hope that as Oprah matures, her need for personal attention will wane, and she will begin to focus all of her considerable influence and leadership on a path designed to alleviate the suffering of others. She can do this by continuing to bring global awareness of the plight of those less fortunate via her growing empire communication. If she can keep her ego in check and work instead to creating and sharing a network positive influence, I think her joy would replace her need for personal recognition.
Her ego just won’t rest, will it?
Sorry, I’m just so over the Church of Oprah. The woman annoys. And yet to be fair I have enjoyed watching her act in the past. But will I watch this? Don’t know. I do know I won’t be watching OWN, a forum for Oprah to indulge her obsessive penchant for celebrities. Oh, she loves them!
Oprah needs to take a long vacation because this nation, and maybe the entire world, is suffering from Oprah-fatigue. Enough already.
She wholly lacks the self-awareness to realize this. After twenty-some years, she talks more and listens less than ever. I find her insufferable most times. Even her two-day show about men who were molested was more about her two-cents then their own stories. Ugh. Clueless much?
Oprah could make a great Mama Nadi…don’t be too quick to criticize.
Oprah Winfrey is a fine actor. I look forward to seeing this.
oy
enough Oprah-ization of America…this needs A REAL ACTRESS …like VIOLA DAVIS or someone like that
As a black woman also, I have to say that Oprah truly takes ownership of what she wants and makes it happen. It started with owning her own show, making her own money, and now having her OWN network. There are plenty of black actresses out here who have the means to take a project like this, option it, and produce it themselves but they didn’t do it. I’m not the biggest fan of Oprah as an actress, but I don’t knock her business savy and her ability to make things happen. If these other actresses have nothing to do, maybe they could learn from her and do it for themselves because White Hollywood is certainly not looking out for them.
You go girl!!
same thing i was thinking. Oprah has every right in the world to use her hard earned money to produce whatever she wants to.
Too many anti-Oprah posts leads me to believe this was linked to a political site.
So much Oprah hate from the far right when she epitomizes the ideals you all claim to love. She went from nothing and a horrible childhood to working hard and tirelessly to become the billionaire she currently is.
She may not be a member of your political party, but you can’t knock her for having a far reaching influence. After all she IS running a multi-media empire. Most people who do so never stop to say, “Gee, I wonder if people are fatigued by me?” No they make continue to money however they can and find new ways to continue doing so.
And to knock her acting, Oprah is a solid actor, if she wants to go back to it, good for her. You forget that while she is starring in this HBO production, the fact that it’s set in an African Nation gives more opportunity for African American and African actresses to be cast in other roles.
@Marie, I kind of see where you’re coming from. But that’s not my big concern.
My major concern is whether the portrayal of Congo will be demeaning. I’m not familiar with the play but I’m glad Nottage is African-American, so hopefully the subject is treated with accuracy and respect. She did win the Pulitzer Prize so I’m guessing her play was quite brilliant.
Congo’s already going through its problems. The last thing it needs is a demeaning tale. I’m not asking for a pretty portrayal or anything like that, but I’m sure you all know what I mean.
@GoodSir, you can read the play (available at amazon.com) or even the reviews (just google it) and you will see that you have nothing to worry about. Wh post something negative and fearful when accurate and detailed descriptions of the play are readily available?
Like her or not, Oprah is perfect for the role. If she’s getting this project made through Harpo, she should take her pick if she wants it. This is a great play, very inspiring with a vital message about what’s happening in the Congo and other parts of Africa.
I also hope they use as much of the original cast as possible. Saw them here in LA at the Geffen, and they were a wonderful group of actors who deserve a big (or little) screen break.
Political… oh no… seems to me like there’s a lot of negativity and jealousy goin’ around here. I bet most of you have never even heard of the play let alone seen it… and now judge whether or not Oprah can do it … etc…..tsk tsk tsk.
Oprah, your 15 minutes have lasted 25 years. Time to give someone else a chance. Produce this if you want and throw as much money as you want, just stay away from the acting gigs.
@ Marie & Ebony Girl – I agree with both of you. I would also add that I would like to see Oprah stretch out of her comfort zone and do a contemporary project, maybe a comedy, something other than the same “heavy” stuff she always does. I’m talking in her acting and producing career. IMO, the movie Precious was depressing. I’m tired of the downtrodden black woman stuff. Give us light & sexy for a change.
It’s so sad to read all the Oprah-hating out there. Oprah has made countless opportunities for black actresses and she RARELY steps in front of the camera, so I say kudos to Oprah for getting it made. And also for all you Oprah-haters out there…if you knew this play you’d know that Oprah is perfect for the role of Mama Nadi. Of course there are more talented trained actors out there who could do as well, but none of them have her draw on whatever she touches. This is the most important play to come about in a very long time and if her attachment to this film will put it on a bigger platform for the world to stop the countless rapes that happen there EVERYDAY…I say thank you Oprah. I want to know what everyone of you haters have done in your lives to make a difference. Crabs in a barrel folks…crabs in a barrel.
RUINED = Masterpiece
Peace.
One positive out of this is that “minority” stories are being told…I just saw the movie Night Catches Us, which was an OK movie, not very compelling, but OK….and I can’t help but think there is no material being written by black writers. None….if there is, it’s not being put on the screen. Maybe comic book heroes, but there are no Nikki’s, no Don L. Lee’s, no James Baldwins, and the names go on and on…we need novelists and playwriters.
Almost all of the posters who criticize those of us who have the audacity to question Winfrey’s actions aren’t arguing the merits of her actions. Allow me to break this down.
Judging from the number of black actresses we see in lead roles in feature films, I think it’s safe to say that the opportunities for black actresses are severely limited. Winfrey’s in a position to significantly change that situation but instead chooses to showcase herself.
@Ebonygirl— re: “there are plenty of black actresses out here who have the means to take a project like this, option it, and produce it themselves but they didn’t do it.” Really? Taraji P. Henson, Viola Davis, Lisa-Gay Hamilton, Alfre Woodard, Angela Bassett et al have the MONEY and the POWER to do what Winfrey does but instead they choose not to? I find that hard to believe. Winfrey is worth $2.7 billion. She could open her own studio and produce numerous projects showcasing numerous black actresses. Instead, she chooses to showcase HERSELF as an ACTRESS. Of course she’s ALLOWED to do whatever she wants with her billions but I don’t have to support or respect her choices.
@Sylvia Llewellyn—The “jealousy” accusation is simplistic. I won’t speak for other critics, but I’m not jealous of Winfrey. Her current billions will never compensate for all of the past pain she’s endured in her life, pain I thankfully haven’t experienced. There’s NOTHING about her life of which I’m jealous. I just wish that her interest in film translated into giving more opportunities to the numerous, talented black actresses out there who have NO ONE ELSE championing them. Instead she chooses self-aggrandizement.
@Sleepwalker—Again, criticism isn’t “hate.” Criticism is about encouraging ourselves and others to be BETTER. When I criticize Tyler Perry, it isn’t because of hate or jealousy; it’s because black audiences deserves higher quality work than he’s producing. You say that “Oprah has made countless opportunities for black actresses.” I don’t know what these “countless” opportunities were unless you mean Beloved and Their Eyes Were Watching God, neither of which can be considered “countless.” Winfrey’s in a position to do exactly that—provide countless opportunities to black actresses—but instead chooses to be a movie star herself. Again, I am disappointed by this choice and simply don’t support it.
I applaud her for taking this on, she has every right to do so, as a Black man who worked in the “Black Hollywood world” I find it appalling that Black actors don’t and never support projects at the script stage or from the ground up –case in point I had a awesomely written project and top Black talented attached and not one Black actor got off their rump to help promote it to help get the funding to make it happen, I just finished a screenplay written for a Latino cast and totally different story they asked what needs to be done put up their own hard earned money and henceforth we are shooting a trailer soon to attract funders and investment –God Bless her for doing it cause Black actors had the chance to go for and the same tired thing –none got their rump to make it happen, good for her for toiling to get it done in the Black realm , cause I damn sure won’t be returning to that world and will follow all those Black directors heading as far away from Black Hollywood cause there is no support what so ever, it’s sad cause the talent is out there but Black folk won’t do jack shit to make things happen –unless the story has thugs and chitlins in it !!!
@Sally: There are TONS of Black writers (check out the Organization of Black Screenwriters), it’s just that Hollywood largely ignores intelligent Black stories that don’t come from Mr. Perry and his factory of ghetto melodrama.
Who’s directing? Oprah can do it. She just needs a good director who she respects like she did Spielberg in Color Purple. He got a great performance out of Oprah! I hope and pray that Lynn is writing the screenplay and that they attach a really good director!
I would not be at all shocked if one day someone aside from Kitty Kelley exposes Oprah Winfrey for the con artist she pretends she is not, Oprah is a sugar coated Hollywood like cover up, using expose’ as a cover-most of it is a put on and production number, extremely convincing however (did anyone see Oprah in Nov, 2010 make G.W. Bush look like an “angel”?). Many televangelists have used charity and good things to rake in millions in the name of “God” and domestication , and after discussing Oprah’s tact of using material similar to others while also “changing” the content and her non public or non “transparent” business, hiring ghost writers, then understanding the hidden nature of addicts behavior, as Ms.Winfrey is a former crack head, its safe to see her intent is glorification of persona, in a sophisticated portrayal…….. as of course “black” women just do not like being degraded.
Understanding this woman’s psychology could be a waste of time however as she is more important to herself then to the millions of people who don’t bother in others ego or babble, caring less about other peoples money.
I’m looking at how Beloved flopped. I think it would have been better is someone else played the troubled Sethe. We hold Oprah in high esteem thus we did not need to see her peeing and having sex.
I’ve seen the play, ‘Ruined’ it is a great play. However, I implore Oprah not to play Mama Nadi. Give the role to someone else, in fact why not hold an Open Casting Call and give some unknowns a chance.