While only 25 Black female performers have been nominated for Best Supporting Actress over the Academy Awards’ 96-year history, only two of them can boast having been acknowledged by the TONY Awards for the same role.
Tuesday (January 23), ‘The Color Purple’ star Danielle Brooks made history by becoming the second.
On Tuesday morning, Brooks learned she will face off against Emily Blunt, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, America Ferrera, and Jodie Foster for the Best Supporting Actress prize at the 2024 Academy Awards on March 10. Danielle’s mention came with historic attachments, however.
First, she enters an exclusive category of acts who have been nominated for portraying the same character as Oprah Winfrey also received a Best Supporting nod in 1986 for bringing ‘Sofia’ to life in the first film adaptation of ‘Purple.’
Next, Danielle has become only the second Black female performer in history to land an OSCAR nomination for the same role that earned her a TONY nomination as fans of ‘Purple’ know its stageplay version earned the 34-year-old the latter nod in 2016.
The first to accomplish the unique feat was Viola Davis – who was nominated for and captured the OSCAR and TONY for her performance in the stage and film versions of ‘Fences‘ (in 2010 and 2017 respectively).
All Female Actresses Nominated for OSCARs & TONYs for the Same Role
- Shirley Booth
- Rosalind Russell
- Anne Bancroft
- Geraldine Page
- Barbra Streisand
- Stockard Channing
- Helen Mirren
- Viola Davis
- Danielle Brooks
Brooks’ Academy Award recognition comes after she also enjoyed mention in a similar categories at the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice Awards.
Look below to see how Oprah, producer of the 2023 ‘Purple,’ reacted to the news.