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Phylicia Pearl Mpasi

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Phylicia Pearl Mpasi
Born (1993-11-16) November 16, 1993 (age 31)
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materElon University
Known forThe Color Purple

Phylicia Pearl Mpasi (born November 16, 1993)[1] is an American actress and writer.[2] She began her career by performing in the broadway production of The Lion King. Mpasi made her film debut as Celie Harris-Johnson in the 2023 version of The Color Purple , being recognized with an 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

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

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

Career

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Mpasi began her career in theater, performing in various roles in The Lion King musical on Broadway and on tour. 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

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2023 The Color Purple Young Celie Film debut

Theater

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
Unknown The Lion King Various Broadway; National Tour

Discography

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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

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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

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  1. ^ Jackson, Angelique (December 24, 2023). "Introducing Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, 'The Color Purple's' Young Celie: 'This Is Work I Was Meant to Do'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 26, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  2. ^ Complex, Valerie (January 5, 2024). "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 January 21, 2024.
  3. ^ "Phylicia Pearl Mpasi". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "After years of auditioning for Celie, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi became her. Inside her 'Color Purple' debut". Yahoo News. December 26, 2023. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "Phylicia Pearl Mpasi of 'The Color Purple' Holds Private Screening At Regal in Germantown". The MoCo Show. January 2, 2024. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "Phylicia Pearl Mpasi says bigscreen debut in 'The Color Purple' has been 'the greatest gift'". Today at Elon. December 20, 2023. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  7. ^ "Go Behind the Scenes of 'The Color Purple' with Phylicia Pearl Mpasi". Town & Country. December 25, 2023. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "The Color Purple Actress Phylicia Pearl Mpasi Details Receiving Call from Oprah After a Difficult Scene (Exclusive)". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  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. ^ Williams, Alexis P. (December 22, 2023). "To Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, her debut in 'The Color Purple' feels 'meant to be'". The Washington Post. 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. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (December 4, 2023). "'Origin' and 'The Color Purple' Composer Kris Bowers Shares Gratitude for Kobe Bryant Mentorship, Ava DuVernay Collaborations and Scoring Empowering Stories". Variety. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "The Ambies (2022)". IMDb. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  14. ^ "2023 HMMA WINNERS AND NOMINEES". Hollywood Music In Media Awards. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  15. ^ Thompson, Jaden (November 13, 2023). "America Ferrera, Colman Domingo and Greta Lee Among Critics Choice Association Honorees for Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements". Variety. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  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 (December 15, 2023). "Black Reel Awards Nominations: 'The Color Purple' And 'Rustin' Dominate". Deadline. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  18. ^ "2024 Black Reel Film & TV Winners". Black Reel Awards. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  19. ^ "FILM NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 29TH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS HOSTED BY CHELSEA HANDLER – Critics Choice Awards". Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  20. ^ "55th annual NAACP Image Awards nominations". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  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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