Oprah Shocks Meryl: I Wanted To Star In "Doubt" (VIDEO)

Oprah Winfrey shocked guest Meryl Streep on Tuesday when she told the "Doubt" star that she had called the director and tried to costar in the film.

The role Oprah wanted was that of Mrs. Miller, the mother of the boy Streep's nun suspects is being molested by a priest. The part ultimately went to Viola Davis, who has garnered a slew of nominations for her work.

Oprah told Meryl "I wanted to do that," in part, "just so that I could have a scene with you in my lifetime."

"He told me no. No way! Not even a read or anything."

Meryl's look of surprise upon hearing the news is a must-see.


WATCH:

Comments

[laheek]

Lucky you were Meryl! Doubt is just an outstanding piece. .The director was so right . No need of an Oprah there

[Mathend99]

Oprah was very good in "The Color Purple", I must admit, but Danny Glover was even better and Whoppi Goldberg was just ThE BEST. But Oprah went on to make a fortune running a talk show for housewives. Lucky gal.

[sjones66]

Meryl Streep was so phenomenal in this movie -- her performance was breathtaking. It is the best of her career-- and that's saying something.

I hope she wins the Oscar- I'm def voting for her for the SAG awards.

Viola was wonderful in her part, and I can see why Oprah wouldn't be right for the part. Unfortunately for her, she brings her star power with her-- and this part needed an inherent vulnerability within the power structure of our society. As unfair as it is, it would have been difficult to overlook Oprah's power in this part.

A movie full of great acting, great directing...A treat.

[MomfromTexas]

Yes. I loved this film. Streep was amazing in it, and I agree with you that it was the best performance of her career.

[missjabez]

Well, she is a good actress. But she sure has been getting on my nerves lately.

[littlebrowngirl]

Oprah is RICH! Give other black folks a chance!

[PDXTransplant]

That's not how it works...

[laheek]

Well she supported Obama. This is the change

[PDXTransplant]

Oprah is a great actress and gives it her ALL. She was fantastic in The Color Purple.

[toocoldout]

I agree. Her performance in The Color Purple still haunts me. It's very very rare that I see a performance that powerful.

[westreal]

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia

But in Oprah's case Marcia always share with the poor and less fortunate. So does Oprah have an ego, YES. Is she selfish, NO. When you amass $2 billion of wealth you kinda have to have an ego.

[listentome]

Some of the comments are weird. Give credit where credit is due. Oprah is Oprah. By that I mean she is successful and doesn't have to work another day in her life. In this life just about the only way to get what you want is to make everything about you. But, having said that she didn't have to tell Meryl or anyone else that she wanted to do the part, but she did. She didn't have to say that she was turned down but she did. She didn't have to admit Viola was a better choice but she did. So, where is the ego problem?

[toocoldout]

You can't reason with a bunch of racists. They just don't like the idea of a black woman billionaire period.

[Lurker50]

Thank You.

[zest]

She shoulda bought the film rights to the script.

[voltage356]

Oprah is so full of herself that it's shameless.

[toocoldout]

You're so racist it's shameless.

[huffyISaHottie]

racist?...are you f'n kidding?

[DanHasSpoken]

Oprah Winfrey is an egomaniac.

[BannedFromCommenting]

Good for her! Most billionaires are, its how they got to be billionaires!

[DanHasSpoken]

Imagine a world where everyone strives to an egomanical billionaire. You can have it.

[anonimost]

when I saw Viola in the movie I did think "Oprah could have done that." Just a coincidence. It would be nice to see her on the big screen again.

[heather65]

wow, such venom spewed at oprah.
she stated herself that she ultimately agreed that viola was the better choice.
she wanted the role, didn't get it and yet she was gracious enough to admit the director had good judgement in his ultimate choice.
happens all the time.
big stars that have tried out for parts or expressed interest in roles that in hindsight wouldn't have been very good for the film.
example: lou gossett jr. not cast as hannibal lecter. anthony hopkins obviously the better of the two.

[Rictracee]

the venom is only because she openly supported Obama, so you have those hilobots that still upset.. LOL they are so pathetic. get over it.. HILLARY LOST A LONG TIME AGO.. now sit down

[heather65]

ahh..i see.
hmmm..kinda fits in with my example.

[sweetwhine]

Oprah and Meryl. Two of my most favorite women.

[scorpioleidy]

Uh, sorry, HarpO - but they needed a real actress!

Why is it that people who (appear to) have everything always want/think they're entitled to so much more???!!!

[fregan]

Go back and watch "The Color of Purple" and then say Oprah is not a real actress. Just an envious know-nothing, have-nothing.

[toocoldout]

Exactly. She was the best thing in A Color Purple.

[BannedFromCommenting]

Though it got panned, Beloved was a pretty good movie I thought... little hokey in parts, but overall I thought well done... Thandie Newton was creepy in it, the sister had the best scowl look. Quite a heavy story, but a basic ghost story that I liked a lot.

[toocoldout]

Oprah got an Oscor nomination for her very first role. Actors don't come much better than Oprah.