Celebrity Celebrity Relationships Celebrity Friendships Oprah Winfrey Recalls Steven Spielberg Yelling 'Cut' After She Looked at Camera While Filming 1985's Color Purple “I had never done a film, been in a film, knew anything about filming but wanted to be in 'The Color Purple' more than anything in my life,” Winfrey said on 'The Drew Barrymore Show' By Escher Walcott Escher Walcott Escher Walcott is a Writer/Reporter at PEOPLE, covering stories in Entertainment, Style, Human Interest.She joins having written for several popular news publications, including Glamour, Refinery29, NYLON and Evening Standard, discussing the latest fashion trends, pop culture news, and pressing social matters. People Editorial Guidelines Published on December 28, 2023 12:51PM EST Close Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg. Photo: Taylor Hill/WireImage; Dia Dipasupil/Getty Oprah Winfrey is reflecting on being directed by Steven Spielberg in her first-ever film role. During a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, the media mogul, 69, recalled being called out by Spielberg — who directed the 1985 classic — after she looked into the camera while filming a scene. “I had never done a film, been in a film, knew anything about filming but wanted to be in The Color Purple more than anything in my life,” Winfrey said on the show. Winfrey said that she’d made the mistake of looking straight into the camera on her first day of filming alongside costar Whoopi Goldberg. The Drew Barrymore Show. The Drew Barrymore Show/Ash Bean Color Purple Outshines Box Office Predictions by Earning Second-Biggest Christmas Day Opening of All Time “Steven yells, ‘Cut! Cut! Cut! What are you doing?'” recalled Winfrey. “[I said], ‘Uh. I was just doing my lines.’ He said, ‘What are you doing looking in the camera?’ I go, ‘I’m not supposed to look in the camera?’ He goes, ‘No! Ms. Celie’s over here!'” “I didn’t know. I didn’t know. I had never been on a movie set,” she added. Despite her early hiccup on set, Winfrey’s performance as Sofia in the film earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Four decades later, Winfrey and Spielberg are co-producers on the musical adaptation of The Color Purple, which was released Christmas Day. Winfrey played the character Sofia in the 1985 film 'The Color Purple'. Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock Oprah Winfrey Reveals She Uses Weight-Loss Medication as a ‘Maintenance Tool': ‘I’m Absolutely Done with the Shaming’ (Exclusive) “So full circle!” Winfrey said on the show of reuniting with Spielberg. “Look at God looking at me! I think it’s so incredible.” The new movie musical, which stars Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks and more, took the No. 1 spot on Monday, beating box office predictions, and had the largest Christmas opening since 2009, according to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Winfrey and Spielberg are co-producers of the 2023 musical adaptation. Eric Charbonneau/Getty Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Winfrey has a lot to celebrate following the film's success as she gears up to turn 70 in January. Speaking to PEOPLE earlier this month about reaching the landmark birthday, Winfrey said, "I will never be done until my last breath is done, and whenever that happens it will be a peaceful breath." She added, "Gratitude really is my religion."