Oprah Winfrey and Renée Elise Goldsberry Talk Henrietta Lacks For Essence April Cover
“I feel within me and have always felt; from the time I was reciting Sojourner and Margaret Walker and Fannie Lou Hamer, I always felt the spirit of those women abiding in me. The same is true for Henrietta Lacks…”—Oprah Winfrey, Essence
When Oprah Winfrey read how one Black woman’s countless contributions to science saved millions, she turned the best-selling book into her next movie. This month she, along with Broadway and TV phenom Renée Elise Goldsberry (who plays the film’s title character), star in the unheralded story of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, airing on HBO April 22nd. In Essence’s article, Into the Light, both stars talk about the incredible significance of Lacks; whose cells—called HeLa—have been used globally in the development of the polio vaccine as well as treatments for Parkinson’s, leukemia, hemophilia and the flu. While vials of the cells by the millions have been reproduced, sold and stored in research labs, most scientists who work with them knew nothing about the woman they’d come from. Until now…
The April issue of Essence hits newsstands Friday, March 24. For more on this issue, visit here, and see below for quotes.
Oprah’s Article Quotes:
On Why Henrietta Lack’s Story is Important: “I’ve been intrigued by this idea of what hearing someone else’s story can do for you. It is through the stories of other African-American women that I felt my own sense of identity and came into my own power…”
On How Everything is Connected: “I will tell you that I know that all things are connected…I know that the force that is God is also part of every living thing and everything that has also lived…I feel within me and have always felt; from the time I was reciting Sojourner and Margaret Walker and Fannie Lou Hamer, I always felt the spirit of those women abiding in me. The same is true for Henrietta Lacks…”
On the Power of Questioning Authority: “I think [this story] will expand the idea of questioning authority, particularly when it comes from the medical field…I thought that, for me, being able to put a light on that was also really very important. I wanted to make a statement about that, through this story…”
On What She Does Each Morning [EXCERPT]: “When I wake up every morning, my first thought is, Thank you…” Her next thought: Whoa, still here? Okay. Let’s do it.
Renée Elise Goldsberry’s Article Quotes:
On Playing Henrietta Lacks: “I love the opportunity to tell stories that people should know. I think it puts what we do as actors on the level of nurses and doctors. It takes us out of this idea of entertainment into an act of service…”
On How She Defines Power: “I don’t think it’s associated with education or access or what you have in terms of money or fortune. It’s absolutely the power to stand up in a specific circumstance…”
On her youthful look: “I don’t really have any other secret than just God’s grace…I very much believe that health is the strongest and the greatest gift. I have the energy to chase after these dreams…”
