Oprah Winfrey is opening up about that surprise cameo in 'The Color Purple' and revealing why there aren't others. Warning, if you haven't seen the 2023 musical remake of 'The Color Purple', spoilers ahead! Whoopi Goldberg starred as Celie in the original 1985 film and received an Oscar nomination for the role. Now, the new film sees Goldberg make a cameo as a midwife who helps young Celie give birth to her second child.