Oprah Winfrey, a victim of sexual abuse as a child, became obsessed with the novel, The Color Purple, a story of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. She felt that the story of Celie was her story. Obsessed with novel, Oprah began buying every book available at Barnes & Noble, giving the book to friends, passing books to strangers of street corners and beauty shops. She resonated with the character of Sofia who had a personality similar to her own—brassy, self-reliant, and forceful. She fervently prayed that if the book became a movie she would be allowed to play the part of Sofia.

Nine years later, Oprah was a minor Chicago talk show host when Quincy Jones, co-producer of the film, The Color Purple, happened to see her on television. Impressed with Oprah’s powerful personality, he felt that she perfectly fit the role of Sophia. A few weeks later Oprah received an invitation from a casting director to audition for the role of Sofia in The Color Purple, directed by Stephen Spielberg.

Following the audition Oprah felt she might get the part. The stars seemed aligned; after all Sofia was married to Harpo, ironically a palindrome of Oprah—Oprah spelled backward. Months passed with no call back. Finally in desperation she phoned the casting director who scolded her, “What are you doing calling me. I will call you if necessary.”

He continued, rudely, “You aren’t a real actress. You are a television personality. I’m looking for a real actress. In fact, Alfre Woodard just finished auditioning for the part.”

Oprah convinced herself that she failed to get the role because she was overweight. She checked into a Health Spa in Wisconsin where on a cold, rainy miserable day she jogged around the track. Despondent and confused she began praying and singing a hymn, “I surrender all. I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”

As she sang, she prayed, “God please forgive me for my resentment. Please let me surrender my desire for a part of Sofia in the movie. Please let me forget the role and move on with my life.”

Still discontent, she continued to sing as she prayed, “Lord let me be able to see the movie without bitterness, without heartache, without despair. Let me enjoy the movie.”

Remaining dissatisfied she began to pray, “Lord help me be able to congratulate Alfre Woodard about her fine job in the role. Let me be able to sincerely and from the heart express pleasure at her good fortune.”

At that instant Oprah felt at total peace about losing the role. As she headed back from the track feeling free of resentment, bitterness, and frustration an employee from the fitness center came running to tell her Stephen Spielberg was on the telephone. “Oprah,” Spielberg said, “I hear you are at a fat farm. Don’t lose a pound of weight. You have the part of Sofia. We like you exactly as you are.”