Since the 2012 premiere of Netflix’s hit original series “Orange Is the New Black,” Danielle Brooks has seen her star rapidly rising. As the level-headed and hilarious Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson, the Georgia-born, South Carolina-raised actress was one of that show’s breakout stars; and now she’s taking her talents to the Great White Way. Brooks makes her Broadway debut as Sofia in the latest revival of The Color Purple and she shared her perspective on the memorable character.
“She is very vulnerable and I think sometimes people forget that Sofia is sexy, too–this woman had six kids and she didn’t get them from beating up no man!” Brooks says with a laugh. “So there is a vulnerability about her, a beauty about her, that I love to get to play. I get to play the strength, the sexy and the funny. There are so many layers to who she is.”
The character of Sofia was unforgettably portrayed by Oprah Winfrey in the 1984 film and has come to symbolize resilience. For Brooks, she thinks that the character and overall story of The Color Purple should give people insight on human fortitude in dire times.
“When you are dealing with issues like ISIS or Spring Valley High School or Charleston, South Carolina–you need something to counteract that. You need stories like The Color Purple that deal with healing and finding yourself and finding your strength and your light.
“That’s why the theater is so powerful, we can counteract the negativity going on in the world and remind people of humanity.”
The Juilliard alum, who is also currently starring on Netflix’s Master Of None, recognizes that The Color Purple connects deeply with many in the Black community and she believes that it’s because the story conveys so much of the pain and hope that has come to define the Black experience.
“I think it resonates on so many levels to our community and how we deal with each other and sisterhood and men and women’s relationships and to the community,” she says. “Sofia is the only character who gets beat up by society. It hits on different levels and I think it’s a story that will never die.”
