BeatBoxBetty interviews Whoopi Goldberg from "Kingdom Come"

Written By: BeatBoxBetty
- March 2001

Born Caryn Johnson on November 13, 1955 in New York City, WHOOPI GOLDBERG began her career when she was only eight years old, performing in Children's Theater in New York. She then went on to study at the Hudson Guild Children's Arts Program and the prestigious High School for the Performing Arts.

So it's no surprise that while she's definitely made a name for herself as an outspoken comedienne, she's also developed into a talented dramatic actress.

Be it her memorable role in "The Color Purple" or her Oscar winning performance in "Ghost," Whoopi's uncanny ability to charm the masses and suck audiences into her own unique (and wacky) world is some powerful stuff.

Recently, I got a chance to speak with this very funny lady about the pressures of Oscar, the whole death thang and her new movie, "Kingdom Come."

Here's how that conversation went...

WHOOPI GOLDBERG
on the set of "Kingdom Come"
Photo: Fox Searchlight

BETTY: Since we've just seen the chaos that is the Academy Awards, can you tell us about your own memories of winning an Oscar for "Ghost?"
WHOOPI: Well, I would if I could remember any of it. It's one of the few blackout moments that I will cop to in public. All I remember is Denzel [Washington] saying, "C'mon, c'mon!" That's really all I recall.

BETTY: What advice would you have given the nominees before the big night?
WHOOPI: Probably nothing you can print - because it's either gonna happen or it's not. But you have to enjoy the moment 'cuz there's so much hype. Everyone nominated should really be having the best possible time.

BETTY: Now, what about hosting the Oscars? That's a beast you've conquered as well. Do you think the media criticizes the host of these shows too much?
WHOOPI: Nobody can tame that beast. And I challenge any writer or any TV critic to get up there and try it. If you find you can't do it, then shut the fuck up and let the people do their job. It's a tough gig. And nobody understands it, you know? We're not all Billy [Crystal]. Let's just give some encouragement to the people who take this job on. That's what I say - but that's me. That's why I don't do it anymore.

BETTY: Touché. Now, in your new movie, "Kingdom Come," your character's really the centerpiece of the film, but she's also very reserved. Was it difficult playing her?
WHOOPI: No. That's who she was. She's very laid back. She's not the star of the movie, which I was thrilled about. I worked a couple of weeks and I went home. And I was happy to have the work and I was happy to go home. I was just pleased to be amongst the company.

BETTY: What was it about this movie that interested you enough to sign on?
WHOOPI: It made me laugh. This may sound terrible, but just the idea of someone dropping dead at the table and the family coming together to deal with it was amusing to me. Because it was a family we hadn't seen before, I thought that was interesting. And I knew they'd greenlight it if I did it. Which is kind of a nice place to be.

WHOOPI GOLDBERG ON THE SET OF
"KINGDOM COME"
Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight

BETTY: Ever been to an over-the-top funeral like the movie depicts?
WHOOPI: I am an over-the-top funeral. Yes, of course. It's a cultural thang. Italians and black people go crazy at the funerals. Irish people, they go crazy after the funeral. We go crazy at the funeral.

BETTY: What's going to be on your tomb stone?
WHOOPI: Crabby Whoopi Goldberg

BETTY: How was it working with "Kingdom Come" director, Doug McHenry (who also directed "Jason's Lyric")?
WHOOPI: I liked working with Doug. He was very nice to me. He let me have my hour for lunch. And anybody who lets me have my hour for lunch is my pal.

BETTY: Speaking of pals, I know that you're good friends with Sharon Stone. Have you noticed any big changes in her since the new baby?
WHOOPI: Ya know, I have not seen Sharon since she brought her son home. But we've both been busy - and it's not like we're next door neighbors or anything.

BETTY: You haven't even talked to her on the phone?
WHOOPI: No, I haven't even talked to her yet because I've got three grand kids and all of my craziness.

BETTY: With all that craziness, what kind of criteria needs to be met before you take on a new role?
WHOOPI: It has to be short enough to keep my interest. It has to pay me well enough so I don't feel like I'm doing it for nothing. And I have to feel like there's a possibility that we can have a good time doing it. That's all I'm really interested in. "The Hollywood Squares" pays a lot of my bills, so I have the freedom to just sort of cruise along. I'm just really interested in having a good time now. And that doesn't mean no dramas, it means I don't want the headache. I don't want to be the star. Let them tear someone else a new butt!

BETTY: But is there a dream role that you see yourself in - perhaps in the near future?
WHOOPI: Thousands of them. But if I'll actually get off of my backside to them, is another story. I am actually working with Christina, you know, the Latin talk show hostess? She and I are in the process of putting together the Celia Cruz story. So that would be great.

BETTY: What was interesting to you about Celia's story?
WHOOPI: Because Celia Cruz is the quintessential survival story. She looks like no one else. She sounds like no one else. And she's still the Queen...the QUEEN of Latin music! Not like the Princess. The Queen! No one can touch her. I think it's a story people should know, because she was a pioneer. Not because she weighed six ounces and was perfect looking, but because she had "get."

BETTY: Now that your diving wholeheartedly into producing, what other projects are you cooking up?
WHOOPI: My company's also trying to bring to the screen a movie called, "Destined To Witness: Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany" by a man named Hans J. Massaquoi. It's a great story about this man who was born and raised in Nazi Germany and it's so unusual. Anything that can knit us all together by our experiences is gonna save the world. So I'm walking this thing around - but you know, people are scared of it. [Laughs] I just don't know why.

Photo courtesy of
Columbia Pictures

BETTY: Some actresses complain that they're not getting great scripts. Are you immune from that since you're such a large name? Do big scripts still come along?
WHOOPI: Scripts never came along - so let's just get rid of that [idea]. It's not like it slowed down...it was not there to begin with. I've always generated work for myself. And I think if I chose to generate more, I could probably do that. But I'm lazy. I'm just L-A-Z-Y.

BETTY: A lot of production companies have been scrambling into Canada for cheaper film shoots. What do you feel about this current trend?
WHOOPI: I love you guys up in Canada. I really do. But a lot of good folks; gaffers and electricians and best boys and camera operators and lighting designers - have found themselves in dire straights because all of the work has gone to Canada. So folks are losing their homes and health benefits. I'm hoping to keep some work here in Los Angeles.

BETTY: But with being so busy, how do manage to find the time to relax? How does Whoopi unwind?
WHOOPI: Well, I'd probably be at home with a couple of books and my cigarettes. Maybe a couple of good movies...

BETTY: What about hobbies?
WHOOPI: I am my own hobby.

BETTY: Do you worry that "Kingdom Come" will be thrown into a limited marketing campaign because people will label it a "black film?"
WHOOPI: [Laughs] They should just say, "This movie has too many black people in it, and we're not sure if white people or Asian people are going to be interested in this." That should just be on the poster. [Laughs] But that's again, my opinion.

BETTY: It seems that Hollywood is slowly discovering that there's more to the black experience than the Hood or the Huxtables. Do you think it's getting any better?
WHOOPI: I don't know. I suppose it depends. I've always found that people don't really care about that if they really like the movie. I'm sure that the incidents that have taken place over the years [ie: Over "The Color Purple" director (Steven Spielberg) being white]...with the protests that are mounted against movies starring black people because they've been done by a white person...and the box office falls off because there's a protest...I don't know as a studio head if I'd be looking at an all black cast and saying, "Let's do this!" All of these focusings that go on about black and white - that's never been my thang. I will never be anything but black.

BETTY: Just like I'll never be anything but blonde!
WHOOPI: Exactly.

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