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Sister Act hit inspires Whoopi Goldberg’s return
By Louise Jury, Evening Standard 03.06.09
Star act: Whoopi Goldberg with Sister Act stars Miller, left, and Sheila Hancock after a stunning first night
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She is a grande dame of American cinema, famed for creating the lead roles in films like The Color Purple.
But Whoopi Goldberg has been so bowled over by reaction to the stage version of Sister Act, another of her hit movies, that she is to go back to her performing roots.
Hot on the heels of overcoming a fear of flying to produce the show which opened to standing ovations last night, she will return to London this summer to appear on stage herself.
She is planning a two-night appearance in the capital in August, reprising the kind of one-woman show with which she made her name in America.
Gallery: Sister Act offical opening night
Speaking exclusively to the Evening Standard, Goldberg said: “I'm actually going to be around testing the waters in August with just me and the stage. I'm going to come and talk about whatever is going on in the world.
“It's what I do in the States, not very often but every now and then. I don't think I've done it here for years.
“But when I came and did all the press for Sister Act a couple of months ago, I was so happy and surprised by the response of people saying: Are you going to come and be on our stage?' I thought: I'll do two nights and see how it is.' It will be fantastic for me.”
Goldberg, 53, was originally spotted by director Mike Nichols performing character monologues in 1983.
After he took the show to Broadway, it caught the eye of Steven Spielberg who offered her the lead role in The Color Purple and kickstarted her career.
The star said she was “extraordinarily proud” to see the stage version of Sister Act make the West End. “It's a relief to be finally here. It was a graduation,” she said.
“London audiences are really different from any other audience and if they don't like something they will really let you know. But they got a reception — a standing ovation — I don't think they were expecting.”
