Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Called Out "The Color Purple" Remake For Its Erasure Of Black Lesbian Romance
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor just might be one of the hardest-working actors in show business today. Over the past half-decade, she's delivered stunning performances in critically acclaimed projects such as When They See Us, Lovecraft Country, Origin, and King Richard, alongside Will Smith.
Ellis-Taylor's portrayal in the latter as Oracene "Brandy" Price, the revered matriarch of tennis icons Serena and Venus Williams, earned her first Oscar nomination in 2022, marking a significant milestone in her illustrious career.Yet, perhaps even more noteworthy was her public revelation of her bisexuality at an Essence magazine luncheon that same year.
At the event, the actor proudly wore the word "Queer" on her sleeve. Reflecting on the moment, Ellis-Taylor humorously recalls, "I know [some] people thought it said 'queen' and not 'queer.'"It is that effervescent spirit that makes her magnetic, on and off screen.
I was honored to interview Aunjanue this month, where she shared insights on her experiences as a Black queer actor, and shed light on the importance of recognizing Black LGBTQIA+ individuals during Black History Month.
