Simpsonville's Danielle Brooks has chance at winning an Oscar Sunday for 'Color Purple'
Since Simpsonville native Danielle Brooks was nominated for her first Academy Award in January, she has shared her excitement with her 2.6 million followers on Instagram.
The actress has earned a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nomination, along with Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations for her portrayal of Sofia in 2023's "The Color Purple."
"I am still processing the fact that I became an Academy Award nominee yesterday for a role that means everything to me," Brooks wrote in an Instagram post. "The Color Purple has changed my life in ways I don't think I'll ever be able to express but MY GOD!! Look what God Has Done!"
Since her nomination, she has been on the cover of "Essence" magazine, walked the red carpet at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in a Christian Siriano gown and appeared in an episode of PBS's "Finding Your Roots."
On Sunday, the 34-year-old could win an Oscar. Her competition includes America Ferrera for "Barbie," Da'Vine Joy Randolph for "The Holdovers," Emily Blunt for "Oppenheimer," and Jodie Foster for "Nyad."
Brooks' Broadway debut in "The Color Purple" musical revival, was when she first played the character of Sofia. It earned her a Tony Award nomination and won her a Grammy award.
Besides Sofia in "The Color Purple," she is also well known for her role as inmate Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson on the Netflix comedy-drama series "Orange Is the New Black."
Danielle Brooks attended SC Governor's School
After spending two years at Simpsonville's Hillcrest High, Brooks attended the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities for her 11th and 12th grades.
Brooks' Humanities teacher, Dean Dr. Jennifer Thomas, said the actress exhumed star quality early on, taking every opportunity to push forward. She describes the former student as "the real deal" whose talent and determination paid off in the long run.
Regarding Brooks' work in "The Color Purple," Thomas, who has a background in literature, said the actress has made her proud with her Oscar-nominated performance. She believes everyone in South Carolina should be proud of her, too.
"I'm old enough to remember seeing Oprah in that role," she said. "So it's just like full circle that Danielle and her generation of actors have been able to take that film and breathe new 21st-century life into it and inhabit it in such a way that was really moving," she said.
Governor's School dean recalls Danielle Brooks as a student, mentor
When asked about Brook's personality, Thomas said, "She was not a diva. She doesn't show off. She's very grounded, very human."
Thomas said Brooks' path has not been an easy one. After graduating from the Governor's School in 2007, she studied at the prestigious Julliard School for the Performing Arts.
"That's a testament," she said. "That's a very exclusive and competitive program. Private training. And she's done well on Broadway and film."
So how exactly did Thomas feel the first time she saw her former student on TV? One word is "powerful."
"That ("Orange is the New Black") was the first time I saw her on TV," she said. "She's great. Her character was Taystee, and she was just so powerful in that role. I remember thinking her grandmother would not approve of the adult content, but that didn't matter."
Brooks nominated for Oscar: From 'Orange is the New Black' to 'The Color Purple': Danielle Brooks receives 2024 Oscar nomination
Brooks keeps in touch with Governor's School
Brooks has made a lasting impact at the Governor's School. One way she has done so is by maintaining contact and allowing herself to be a resource for other students there who aspire to act. Another was when she made an inspiring speech during the school's 2020 graduation ceremony, which was a difficult time for many of the graduating class.
"She has a real giving heart and generous practice all around," Thomas said. "She inspired and motivated them, reminding them to keep at it and keep up the hard work."
On Sunday, Thomas will be throwing an Oscar party at her home to celebrate Brooks ― red carpet and all.
Who else has an Oscar nomination from SC?
Two of the most well-known South Carolina native Oscar nominees are Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman.
Actress Davis, born in St. Matthews, has been nominated for four Oscars throughout her career, winning one in 2017 for Best Supporting Actress in "Fences." Her other Oscar nominations were for her roles in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," "The Help," and "Doubt."
Boseman, best known for his role as T'Challa in Marvel's "Black Panther," was nominated for an Oscar back in 2021 for his role as Levee Green in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." To the dismay of many, Boseman did not win a posthumous Oscar for the film, which left many feeling the actor had been robbed of his final chance.
How to watch the Oscars on Sunday
This year, the Oscars will begin an hour earlier than usual at 7 p.m. ET/4 PT. Remember to set your clocks back an hour as well ― Sunday is the first day of daylight saving time.
The show will air live on ABC, also streaming live at abc.com and the ABC app (if you are a cable customer) via connected devices such as AppleTV, and Amazon. Roku and Fire TV. Streaming services like AT&T TV, Hulu, FuboTV and YouTubeTV also carry ABC.
A full day of Oscars coverage begins with "E! Brunch at the Oscars" at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. The red carpet show "Live from E!: The Oscars" starts at 4 p.m. ET/1 PT. ABC's preshow will be at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 PT hosted by Vanessa Hudgens and Julianne Hough, leading into the live award show.
Jimmie Kimmel will host the show just as last year, marking the fourth time he hosts.
Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Governor's School dean praises Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks
