THANDIE NEWTON AND OPRAH WINFREY from Beloved

Opens Friday, October 16

The Crimson was invited to meet Thandie Newton and Oprah Winfrey to discuss their new movie, Beloved. As Ms. Newton sipped a cup of tea, we were able to ask her about her performance as Beloved.

Q: Who do you think the character of Beloved is?

Thandie Newton: She's an elusive figure, very mercurial, who changes drastically from scene to scene. I think it's essential to recognize that Beloved has never been enslaved, or known slavery, yet she has always been imprisoned. At the beginning of the film, she is trapped within the walls of Sethe's house, then she finds herself in a teenage body she is unable to function with. For 16 years she has been denied the growing process and everything is new to her, everything is an experience. I believe Beloved symbolizes betrayal. Sethe betrayed her when she was just a baby and, on a higher level, she represents all the betrayals of slavery. Toni Morrison told me that Beloved is "the you in you; the part of yourself that you can never betray."

Q: Were you ever intimidated by acting with an established star like Danny Glover or a larger-than-life figure such as Oprah Winfrey?

TN: Not at all. The atmosphere was very laid-back and there was absolutely no level of ego. Danny Glover is a really sweet man who makes you feel totally at ease, and Oprah is so reassuring and has such a firm commitment to goodness. This is a person who succeeded completely through hard work, and never stepped on anyone or stooped to cutthroat tactics on her way to the top. Working with her, I realized the sheer range and strength of this woman. She's one of the most inspiring people I've ever met.

Q: How did you go about preparing for the role?

TN: Well, initially I was terrified because I had read the book twice and I still had no clear idea of who Beloved was. I talked to Toni Morrison about it and she told me to do whatever I wanted with the character. I realized then that it was okay to develop my own interpretation as long as I was doing justice to the book. In terms of preparation, I mostly researched case studies of abused children. I knew Beloved had to be a painful figure, never cute, and at times she would be grotesque because that is the only way she knows how to express herself.

Q: What was your most memorable experience on the set?

TN: It was a unique experience because we didn't rehearse any of the scenes, and the movie was shot completely in order from beginning to end. It really forces the actors to put every fiber of their being into each line. Anyway, the scene I remember was the one where Kimberly [Elise] and I are playing and dancing in the attic together and things turn very emotional. All I knew going into the scene was my lines, but when the cameras started rolling, the way in which we were able to shape the scene and the way our lines just occurred naturally was extraordinary. It was the most transcendent experience I've ever had in acting.

After we said goodbye to Thandie Newton, we had to cool our heels for about forty minutes. Oprah Winfrey spoke to us next.

Q: Did the movie meet your expectations?

Oprah Winfrey: Absolutely. I have utterly no regrets about the film, unlike when I graduated from college where I was full of regrets. I hope the same thing doesn't happen to you. But the big surprise for me was how Beloved became more than a movie to me. It was truly a life-transforming experience.

Q: Obviously this project was extremely important to you and perhaps the most vital thing was choosing the right director. Were you immediately sold on Jonathan Demme?