I think Oprah tends to play 'Mrs. Miller' type characters way too often, i.e. Sophie, lead in Women of Brewster Place, Native Son, Beloved, etc. Also her depiction of such women becomes more of a caricature than an honest and believable portrayal. She lays on the dialect way too thick, and plays the character too literally. Even her Oscar nominated role in Color Purple was a bit 'overdone'. I would like to see Oprah play a contemporary woman in a real life role. In the end however I think it probably came down to star power. Any involvement by Oprah in the film would have brought an inordinate amount of attention to her specifically and eclipsed the film and the other performances. Oprah should see the director's decision as a nod to her influence and fame, not as an act of rejection or dejection. All things being equal, putting Viola Davis in that role was not unlike casting a relative unknown local talk show host to play Sophie in Color Purple. By casting an unknown you give the movie a chance to shine with a surprisingly good and unexpected performance. Ironically enough Oprah's lack of fame is what helped her land Color Purple, and I'm sure she understands this role was meant to be the same vehicle for an actress like Davis.

I agree with the director. Viola Davis is an accomplished actor. Oprah is a talk show host who dabbles in acting. Not saying she is without any talent. Too many people think acting is so easy, just something I will fall into and it doesn't work that way. Everyone has to pay dues, even Oprah.

Get off your high horse Oprah! The direction didn't feel you were the best actress for the role. Move on!

Oprah would have done an excellent job...congragulations to Viola Davis in your nomination.

why does her face (by her eyes) look so weird in this picture?

Oh my goodness people...it was in a joking and friendly matter; I watched it. It really is not that serious. She was just joking around and just wanted to me in the Movie with Meryl Streep & she wasnt going for Meryl Streep's part, she wanted Viola Davis's part, it's not like she was trying to steal it from her. Calm Down! sheesh.

I'm LMAO at some of these comments. You all are progressive. You thought that Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey were up for the same part and Meryl was chosen? LOL! I guess Obama getting elected has made people believe that a white woman and a black woman can play the same parts in Hollywood! Good for us! But in reality, Oprah was not chosen for Viola Davis's part, a five-minute snippet in which Ms. Davis plays the mother of the alleged victim of Philip Seymour Hoffman's character. She is FABULOUS! There is no way Oprah could've played that part. Her "I am a victim of child abuse" that she shouts from the rooftops wouldn't be enough to carry through with such a powerful portrayal as Ms Davis gave. She was magnificent and well deserving of the honors she's received. Oprah needs to just have Tom Cruise come jump on her couch and be satisfied.

The director also turned down Natalie Portman for the role played by Amy Adams. I have not seen the movie yet, but it sounds like he has good taste to me!

Her money and power buys so much, Kudos to whoever turned her down and chose one of the best actresses ever.. Meryl Streep.

Oprah needs to shut up. They gave the part to a better and more deserving actress. It's tacky of her to discuss it now.

Oprah was NOT an actress before she was a talk show host. She began in Baltimore in the '70s. She didn't become an actress until WAY after she was a talk show host. What, you think Steven Spielberg picked her when she was a nobody and plucked her from obscurity? LMAO! Not quite. And she isn't much of an actress. Oprah is successful at what she does, but it's a far cry from acting ability.

Oprah's a loser.

Nobody's hating on Oprah, she just needs to go away. She probably asked to move into the White House with the Obamas and got turned away for that too.

Oprah starred in The Color Purple in 1985. Her show began the next year. She's been in many other projects as well, including the film Beloved. So yes, she is an actress.

I haven't seen the clip of this conversation but I highly doubt Oprah said it in a way as if to suggest she should've gotten the role over Viola. I imagine it was in more of a joking fashion as if to say, "yeah, I was refused!" If that's the case, she's just telling a story and lightly poking fun at herself in the process. I agree that the director was right in his casting, because it may have been difficult for people to see past the fact that it was Oprah. But, she was an actress before she became a talk show host. She has the chops for it.