LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Taraji P Henson, during the screening of ‘The Color Purple', revealed that she didn’t say yes to playing Shug Avery immediately.

“The funny thing about life, when something is destined for you, you cannot run away from it. I tried,” she reflected, adding “This is iconic. This is something that is going to live on forever."

Danielle and Fantasia Barrino share their thoughts on 'The Color Purple'

Danielle also shared her thoughts on the movie. “One hundred and eighteen days, y’all. We were unsure if we would be here for this moment, and we’re here,” she said.

Fantasia Barrino, praised director Blitz Bazawule saying, “He allowed me to see…what women go through and how we sometimes need to imagine ourselves in a different place before we get there.”

Oprah Winfrey, too, got emotional at the first public screening of her upcoming flick ‘The Color Purple.’ Talking to Variety, the iconic host emphasized the spiritual dimension that the movie brings.

“For every one of us up here, it is a story of, ‘look at what God has done,'” Winfrey said.

Oprah Winfrey speaks about spiritual side of her movie

The event took place on Thursday, November 16, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

“Until that time, I didn’t know there was language for what had happened to me,” she told the audience during the event, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

“I had been raped and had a child who later died, and I did not have any language to explain what that was. And that book was the first time there was a story about me," she added.

Winfrey, who is also one of the producers and a cast member, said, “That changed everything for me,” calling it a dream come true. “It’s a full-circle moment,” she added.

‘The Color Purple’ is based on Alice Walker’s 1982 novel and Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film with the same title. It will open internationally beginning January 18, 2024, is coming to the big screen as a musical, reports MEAWW.

Alice Walker's 1982 novel won the Pulitzer Prize for literature making her the first Black woman to win the award, states Grunge. Meanwhile, the 1985 film had Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Akosua Busia, Margaret Avery, and Oprah Winfrey.

The other stars that feature in the flick include Fantasia Barrino, Colman Domingo, and Danielle Brooks. 'The Color Purple' releases on Christmas, December 25.