As the inimitable Whoopi Goldberg celebrates her 70th birthday, we take a definitive look back at the film roles that have cemented her status as a true Hollywood icon. From an Oscar-nominated debut to an Academy Award win just five years later, her career is a masterclass in versatility and power.
From Supporting Gems to Leading Lady Greatness
Goldberg's filmography is a rich tapestry of characters, often breaking new ground in Hollywood. Her journey began 40 years ago with an Oscar nomination for her very first film, a remarkable achievement that set the stage for an extraordinary career.
10. Girl, Interrupted (1999)
While Angelina Jolie rightly won an Oscar for her scene-stealing performance, Goldberg's contribution should not be overlooked. As Valerie, the chief nurse in a late-1960s American psychiatric hospital, she delivers a soothingly understated performance. Alongside co-stars Vanessa Redgrave and Jeffrey Tambor, she provides the crucial emotional grounding that allows the younger actors, including Winona Ryder and Brittany Murphy, to shine.
9. Made in America (1993)
In this romantic comedy, Goldberg plays the owner of an African bookstore who discovers her daughter's sperm donor father is Ted Danson. It's hate at first sight, but antipathy eventually turns to amorousness. Despite some regrettable slapstick, Goldberg clings to her dignity. The film was notable for its time, as interracial romance was still largely taboo in US cinema just years earlier.
8. Boys on the Side (1995)
This sugar-and-spice road movie features Goldberg as Jane, a musician who hits the road with two other women, one living with HIV and another fleeing abuse. While the film's handling of her lesbian character feels dated for the 1990s, Goldberg brings undeniable depth and authenticity to the role, elevating the material.
7. The Long Walk Home (1990)
Set in 1950s Alabama, this film sees Goldberg giving a fine, subtle performance as a dutiful servant. Her character's stoicism in the face of open racism, particularly during a white dinner party, is brilliantly deployed. Goldberg later explained the restraint was a deliberate choice, reflecting the reality for Black women of that era who had to contain their anger to support their families.
6. Monkeybone (2001)
In an unusually wacky project for the actress, Goldberg plays Death in Henry Selick's bizarre fantasy. Stationed behind a desk in a purgatory-like realm, her character sports an eye patch and headgear, and even survives her head exploding. It's a testament to her versatility that she commits fully to such an offbeat role.
5. The Deep End of the Ocean (1999)
Playing a tenacious detective who becomes a family friend after a child's disappearance, Goldberg shares a powerful scene with Michelle Pfeiffer. Her character explains her recoil from affection by stating, "I'm Black, I'm a woman, I'm a detective supervisor, and I'm gay." This moment provides a rare, complex glimpse into the intersections of her identity.
4. Sister Act (1992)
This film became Goldberg's second biggest hit, grossing $231 million worldwide and spawning a sequel and stage version. As Deloris, the singer hiding out in a convent, she creates magic, particularly in her rapport with Maggie Smith's Mother Superior. The film's lively soul soundtrack and Goldberg's irresistible performance made it an enduring classic.
3. The Color Purple (1985)
Goldberg's Oscar-nominated movie debut in Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Alice Walker's novel was a meaty start to her film career. She landed the lead role of Celie, the abused and exploited young woman who finds new life through friendship and love. While Spielberg softened the novel's lesbian themes, Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey delivered performances of seasoned pros, despite being newcomers.
2. The Player (1992)
In Robert Altman's brilliant Hollywood satire, Goldberg is a riot as a sceptical, unfazed Pasadena police detective. Amidst cameos from A-listers playing themselves, she creates a memorable character perpetually amused by Tim Robbins' shifty studio executive. Her casting was a subversive masterstroke by Altman to undermine the plot's suspense.
1. Ghost (1990)
This was the film that won Goldberg an Oscar, making her only the second Black female performer to achieve this, five decades after Hattie McDaniel. Her role as Oda Mae Brown, the fraudulent medium who becomes a genuine conduit for Patrick Swayze's ghost, nearly passed her by, with Tina Turner initially favoured. The screenwriter later admitted Goldberg's performance was perfect, bringing vital irreverence and vitality to what might otherwise have been an overly earnest film. Her iconic line, "Molly, you in danger, girl," remains etched in cinematic history.
A Legacy of Breaking Barriers
Whoopi Goldberg's career is not just a collection of great performances but a history of breaking barriers in Hollywood. From her groundbreaking Oscar win to achieving EGOT status, she has consistently defied expectations and paved the way for others. As she turns 70, her filmography stands as a powerful testament to her unique talent and enduring impact on the industry.
