Taraji P. Henson Fought For Proper Transportation After ‘The Color Purple’ Cast Was Given Rental Cars
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In recent conversations, Taraji P. Henson and the cast of The Color Purple have shared how they’ve been treated since producing the adapted film, such as receiving far less perks than the standard of other Hollywood productions.
In a new interview with The New York Times, Henson, who plays Shug Avery, shared that the cast faced transportation issues as they were given rental cars to drive themselves to and from their Atlanta set.
“They gave us rental cars, and I was like, ‘I can’t drive myself to set in Atlanta.’ This is insurance liability, it’s dangerous,” she said. “Now they’re robbing people. What do I look like, taking myself to work by myself in a rental car? So I was like, ‘Can I get a driver or security to take me?’ I’m not asking for the moon. They’re like, ‘Well, if we do it for you, we got to do it for everybody.’ Well, do it for everybody!”
She added, “It’s stuff like that, stuff I shouldn’t have to fight for. I was on the set of Empire fighting for trailers that wasn’t infested with bugs. It wears on your soul because you fight so hard to establish a name for yourself and be respected in this town to no avail.”
During another interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Danielle Brooks (Sophia) recalled the cast not having their own dressing rooms initially, or food available to them. To assess the issue, Henson had to reach out to Oprah Winfrey, who produced the film, therefore being dubbed a “guide” and “our voice box” on set.
“I remember when we first came and we’re doing rehearsals, they put us all in the same space,” Brooks said. “We didn’t have our own dressing rooms at the time. We didn’t have our own food…[Oprah] corrected it for us. [Taraji] was our voice. This was my first studio film. Sometimes you do come in saying, ‘Ok, I’ll take whatever they give me. I’m just happy to be here.’ But [Taraji] spoke up for us. You showed me how to do that.”
Last month, the 53-year-old became emotional while discussing pay equity in Hollywood as a Black actress, despite her success on Empire and having an Oscar-nominated role in 2008’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
“I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do [and] getting paid a fraction of the cost,” Henson explained. “I’m tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over…Every time I do something and break another glass ceiling, when it’s time to renegotiate, I’m at the bottom again like I never did what I just did, and I’m tired. I’m tired. It wears on you. What does that mean? What is that telling me? If I can’t fight for them coming up behind me then what the f**k am I doing?”
The Color Purple premiered on Dec. 25, blazing the box office with $18 million — making it the highest-grossing Christmas Day debut since 2009 and the second-biggest debut ever. The film is playing in theaters now.
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