It has been a long time since Oprah Winfrey last appeared in a movie. Sure, she has lent her notable voice to films like Charlotte's Web, Bee Movie and The Princess and the Frog, but the last time that she appeared in a feature was the 1998 Jonathan Demme film Beloved. Perhaps she's getting the acting bug again or she is just bored with counting her money, but now it looks like that streak may break.
According to THR, Oprah is currently thinking about taking a role in Lee Daniels' next film, The Butler. At this stage, no deals have been made and it is simply a possibility. The film tells the story of Eugene Allen, a butler who worked at the White House from 1952 to 1986, serving under a total of eight presidents. The trade says that Hugh Jackman, Mila Kunis and John Cusack have all been considered for roles and Daniels wants David Oyelowo to play the eponymous character. Should she take the part, Oprah would play Allen's wife, while Kunis would play Jackie Kennedy and Cusack would portray Richard Nixon (the role for Hugh Jackman is unspecified).
When you think about the fact that Oprah Winfrey was never trained as an actress, her talent level is quite surprising. In addition to Beloved, she starred in such films as The Color Purple, and 1986's Native Son. More than anything at this point in her career it would just be interesting to see her back on the big screen.
