Brooks had an emotional reaction to learning that she had been cast as Sofia in "The Color Purple," and thankfully, there's footage of the moment. (The high pitch her voice reaches upon seeing Winfrey simply must be heard.) Brooks praised Winfrey in her caption and wrote, "She put her foot in that role and helped to change so many lives. I pray to do the same." Winfrey added in her post, "Sofia has my heart."
In addition to previously playing Sofia on Broadway, Brooks is known for her breakout performance as Taystee on "Orange Is the New Black," which aired on Netflix for seven seasons.
