Taraji P. Henson is rooting for her Color Purple colleague Fantasia Barrino of her American Idol days.
On Monday, Purple cast members attended the Critics Choice Association Celebration of Cinema and Television: Honoring Black, Hispanic and AAPI Achievement at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, California.
PEOPLE were in attendance as Henson, 53, talked about how deep her love and support for Barrin, 39, runs.
“I’ve always been a fan of hers and I’ve been a huge champion for her American Idol,” the Hidden figures the talent said when asked what it was like spending time with the “Free Yourself” singer on the set of their upcoming film.
Taraji P. Henson.
Leon Bennett/Getty
“I voted as many times as I could, my finger went numb. And my grandfather, who passed away about 20 years ago, was a big fan of hers. So I’m showing her love through him,” Henson added.
Barrino won the singing competition in May 2004 when she was just 19 years old. Idol host Ryan Seacrest revealed that a record 65 million votes had been collected for the election.
“You know what, I’ve been through some things, but I’ve worked hard to get where I am. Thank you all so much, man,” Barrino said in tears after being named champion.
Now, Barrin’s vocals will be heard in an upcoming movie musical Purple, based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker. The star-studded cast includes Halle Bailey, Henson, Jon Batiste, Danielle Brooks, Louis Gossett Jr., Corey Hawkins, David Alan Grier, Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, HER, Ciara and Deon Cole.
Oprah Winfrey, who is producing the new film, played Sofia in the 1985 film alongside Whoopi Goldberg as Celie.
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“Purple 1985 was the biggest and most important thing that ever happened to me and continues to be,” she said onstage at CinemaCon 2023 in April, adding, “Now we’re making a brand new version that could only have come because of the most perfect director,” in Blitz Bazawule , which hosted Beyoncé’s Black is king.
The film follows the “extraordinary sisterhood of three women who share an unbreakable bond,” according to a press release.
Henson plays Shug Avery while Barrino plays the grown-up Celie. This is the “Truth Is” singer’s second appearance in the role as she also portrayed the character in 2007 during a Broadway run Purple.
The Tony Award-winning show was also produced by Winfrey, 69.
Fantasia Barrino gets emotional as she celebrates her 39th birthday with Oprah Winfrey and the cast of ‘The Color Purple’
Barrino previously told PEOPLE that she learned a lot from the actress.
“Oprah gave me a lot of advice. She sat me down… Just, you know, how a lady should behave. How to manage your money. How not to trust everyone. Just watch your back,” she said in 2008.
“But most of all, you have to watch what you’re doing. You have to act that way. You just have to watch your every move and act like a lady,” Barrino added. “So other young ladies watching you will know that’s the way you do it.”
Purple arrives in theaters on December 25.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education