Tina Turner; Whoopi Goldberg and Margaret Avery in ‘The Color Purple’ (1985).Photo:Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty, Everett Collection
Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty, Everett Collection
When it came to her art,Tina Turnerwasn’t interested in revisiting parts of her life that she’d rather leave behind.
Back in 1986, the eight-timeGrammywinner — whodied Wednesday after a long illnessat the age of 83 — saidin an interviewwith Italian television host Serena Dandini that she felt she’d be “dragging myself down” if she took on a major role inSteven Spielberg’s 1985 filmThe Color Purple.
In her words, she opted out because she didn’t want to sing for a film role — plus the movie felt “depressing” and “reflect(ed) too much back on [her] life with [her] ex-husband,“Ike Turner.
“I’m trying to forget the past, because it’s done. It’s over. I finished that part of my life, and I’m not gonna do a part that would remind me of what I’ve lived already,” said Tina.
“And I think Steve understood that I couldn’t do it for that reason, finally, after I really expressed what it was,” she added.
Whoopi Goldberg and Margaret Avery in ‘The Color Purple’ (1985).Everett Collection
Everett Collection
While Tina didn’t note specifically which role she turned down, the lead role of Celie eventually went toWhoopi Goldberg, who was nominated for anOscarfor her performance in the film.
But according toOprah Winfrey, Tina had been offered the role of Shug Avery, which eventually went to Margaret Avery.
“I remember hearing this from [producer]Quincy Jonesyears ago, that they had originally gone to Tina Turner in 1985 to ask Tina Turner to play Shug Avery,” Winfrey, 69, said recently at a trailer-launch event forThe Color Purple’s upcoming musical filmadaptation.
Winfrey — who played Sofia in the original film and will serve as a producer on the upcoming musical remake — added, “Tina Turner turned down the role of Shug Avery because she said she’d already lived it with Ike. And she was not gonna put herself through it again.”
Tina and Ike Turner in 1975.CBS via Getty Images
CBS via Getty Images
A press release for the trailer calls the film, based on Alice Walker’s 1982 novel of the same name and theBroadwaymusical it inspired, a “bold new take on the beloved classic” about “the extraordinary sisterhood of three women who share one unbreakable bond.”
AtCinemaCon 2023in April, Winfrey called overseeing the new production a “full-circle moment” that “holds great personal meaning” to her.
“The Color Purplein 1985 was the biggest andmost important thing that ever happened to meand continues to be,” she said onstage, adding, “Now we’re doing a brand-new version that could only come because of the most perfect director,” in 41-year-old Bazawule, who made his directorial debut with 2018’sThe Burial of Kojo.
The Color Purpleis in theaters Dec. 25.
source: people.com
