Phylicia Pearl Mpasi

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Phylicia Pearl Mpasi
Born (1993-11-16) November 16, 1993 (age 30)
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materElon University
Known forThe Color Purple

Phylicia Pearl Mpasi (born 16 November 1993)[1] is an American actress and writer.[2] She began her career by performing in the broadway production of The Lion King (2015-2020). Mpasi made her film debut as Celie Harris-Johnson in the 2023 version of The Color Purple , being recognized with a NAACP Image Awards for her performance and being nominated with the cast at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Critics' Choice Movie Awards.

Early life and education

Phylicia Pearl Mpasi was born in Silver Spring, Maryland,[3] and is the daughter of immigrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Growing up, she sang in her church choir.[4]

She attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic High School in Olney, Maryland, and graduated in 2011.[5] She then went on to complete her undergraduate studies at Elon University, where she graduated from the theater program in 2015.[6] While at Elon, the musical version of The Color Purple was part of the program's curriculum.[7]

Career

Mpasi began her career in theater, performing in various roles in The Lion King musical on Broadway and on tour from 2015 until 2020. During the pandemic, she began creating YouTube videos.[4] She then pivoted to television writing, working on the television show Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies and the HBO scripted podcast We Stay Looking starring Terri J. Vaughn.[8]

In 2021, she initially auditioned for the role of adult Celie for the film adaptation of the musical The Color Purple.[9] After the role went to Fantasia Barrino, Mpasi went on to audition for the role of young Celie, which she was awarded with the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture.[10] Mpasi also performed the original song "Keep It Movin'" with Halle Bailey, winning the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Song.[11][12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2023 The Color Purple Celie Film debut

Theater

Year Title Role Notes
2015–2020 The Lion King Various Broadway; National Tour

Discography

Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Keep It Movin'" 2023 Halle Bailey The Color Purple (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
"Huckleberry Pie"
"Mysterious Ways" The Color Purple Ensemble

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Project Result Ref.
2022 Ambies Best Scriptwriting, Fiction We Stay Looking Nominated [13]
2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Best Song - Onscreen Performance (Film) "Keep It Movin'" Nominated [14]
Best Original Song – Feature Film Nominated
Celebration of Cinema and Television|Celebration of Cinema and Television Ensemble Award – Film The Color Purple Won [15]
2024 Astra Film and Creative Awards Best Cast Ensemble Won [16]
Black Reel Awards Outstanding Breakthrough Performance Nominated [17]
Outstanding Original Song "Keep It Movin'" Won [18]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Acting Ensemble The Color Purple Nominated [19]
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture Won [20]
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated [21]

References

  1. ^ Jackson, Angelique (2023-12-24). "Introducing Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, 'The Color Purple's' Young Celie: 'This Is Work I Was Meant to Do'". Variety. Archived from the original on 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  2. ^ Complex, Valerie (2024-01-05). "Scene 2 Seen Podcast: Phylicia Pearl Mpasi And Choreographer Fatima Robinson Discuss Why 'The Color Purple' Is An Important Piece Of Literature, And What It Takes To Bring Musicals To Life On Screen". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  3. ^ "Phylicia Pearl Mpasi". Playbill. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b "After years of auditioning for Celie, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi became her. Inside her 'Color Purple' debut". Yahoo News. 2023-12-26. Archived from the original on 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  5. ^ Staff, M. C. S. (2024-01-02). "Phylicia Pearl Mpasi of 'The Color Purple' Holds Private Screening At Regal in Germantown". The MoCo Show. Archived from the original on 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  6. ^ "Phylicia Pearl Mpasi '15 says bigscreen debut in 'The Color Purple' has been 'the greatest gift'". Today at Elon. 2023-12-20. Archived from the original on 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  7. ^ "Go Behind the Scenes of 'The Color Purple' with Phylicia Pearl Mpasi". Town & Country. 2023-12-25. Archived from the original on 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  8. ^ "The Color Purple Actress Phylicia Pearl Mpasi Details Receiving Call from Oprah After a Difficult Scene (Exclusive)". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  9. ^ Jones, Okla (March 18, 2022). "Exclusive: Tamela Mann, Deon Cole And Louis Gossett, Jr. Added To Cast Of The Color Purple". Essence. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  10. ISSN 0190-8286
    . Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  11. ^ Clark, Jason (November 20, 2023). "'The Color Purple': How Nova Wav Kept the Broadway Beat". TheWrap. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  12. Variety
    . Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "The Ambies (2022)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  14. ^ "2023 HMMA WINNERS AND NOMINEES". Hollywood Music In Media Awards. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  15. ^ Thompson, Jaden (2023-11-13). "America Ferrera, Colman Domingo and Greta Lee Among Critics Choice Association Honorees for Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements". Variety. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  16. ^ "AwardsWatch - Barbie and Oppenheimer Lead Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) Astra Awards Nominations". AwardsWatch. December 7, 2023. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  17. ^ Complex, Valerie (2023-12-15). "Black Reel Awards Nominations: 'The Color Purple' And 'Rustin' Dominate". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  18. ^ "2024 Black Reel Film & TV Winners". Black Reel Awards. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  19. ^ "FILM NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 29TH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS HOSTED BY CHELSEA HANDLER – Critics Choice Awards". Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  20. ^ "55th annual NAACP Image Awards nominations". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  21. ^ "Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®" (Press release). Screen Actors Guild. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
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