Whoopi Goldberg: Whoopi Goldberg rejected her leading role at first

Whoopi Goldberg achieved his breakthrough in 1985 with "The Color Purple". However, the actress had initially turned down her lead role.

With the drama "Die Farbe Lila" (The Color Purple) Whoopi Goldberg (65, "Ghost – Message from Sam") made his breakthrough in Hollywood alongside Danny Glover (74, "Lethal Weapon") in 1985. Her leading role even earned the actress an Oscar nomination the following year. According to the British Daily Mail, however, the US-American revealed in an interview with Total Film magazine that she had initially rejected the film's director, Steven Spielberg (73, Jurassic Park).

"Steven Spielberg said to me, 'I really want you to play the role of Celie,'" recalls Goldberg. When she responded with a no to his role offer, the filmmaker was surprised. However, she believed that the main role was "too big" for her at this point. "I've never made a film before and I don't want to be terrible in it," was the statement made by the now 65-year-old.

Steven Spielberg convinced Whoopi Goldberg

However, director legend Spielberg convinced his dream actress by suggesting a deal. "Trust me in my knowledge that this role is right for you and if I think you are terrible I will help," he said to Goldberg.

The film is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker (76). The drama was nominated eleven times for an Oscar, but could not win the coveted award once.