Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, a Montgomery County native and 2011 graduate of Good Counsel in Olney, will star as young Celine in the upcoming remake of The Color Purple. The movie portrays the story of the life-long struggles of an African American woman living in the south during the early 1900s and is a remake of the 1985 classic film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey that was directed by Steven Spielberg.
Mpasi will play lead character Celie Harris Johnson in her younger years, with Fantasia Barrino playing the lead character as an older adult. Per a bio on Coverfly, Mpasi “is the joyful daughter of Congolese immigrants. An alumna of Elon University, this actress, writer, comedian, and singer was seen in Broadway’s The Lion King and desires to tell stories showcasing the excellence of underrepresented people through a comedic lens.”
The Color Purple remake is set to be released on Christmas Day later this year and is produced by Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg. It will also star Prince George’s County native Taraji P. Henson, Louis Gossett Jr., David Alan Grier, H.E.R, and more.
'