"The Color Purple" director Blitz Bazawule fought to cast Taraji P. Henson, the actor said. Henson said this was not the first time "I was the director's choice, but not the studio's choice." AdvertisementTaraji P. Henson said she had to prove she could sing in her audition for "The Color Purple," and that the movie's director fought to cast her. "That's happened to me several times in my career where I was the director's choice, but not the studio's choice. AdvertisementShug Avery (Taraji P. Henson) makes a grand entrance in "The Color Purple."

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Persons: Blitz Bazawule, Taraji, Henson, IndieWire, Shug Avery, —, Alice Walker's, Annie, That's, Shug, Bazawule, y'all, Oprah Winfrey, Dax Shepard, I've, I'm Organizations: Service, Warner Bros Locations: Hollywood