What do you get when the producer and writer behind Six Feet Under and Lost teams up with Oprah Winfrey? A dysfunctional Christian family that may or may not be laundering money, of course!
After almost two decades of starring in films and as guest stars in series, Oprah returns to her acting chops in Greenleaf as the recurring character Mavis McCready, the aunt of the main character Grace Greenleaf, played by Merle Dandridge. Also starring in the series include Keith David as Grace’s father — biologically and religiously– Bishop James Greenleaf, Lynn Whitfield as James’ wife Mae, Kim Hawthorne as Grace’s sister Kerissa, and Lamman Rucker as her brother Jacob.
Set to debut on the Oprah Winfrey Network on June 21, the series follows Grace as she returns home after her aunt’s death to stay for the weekend. While there, she falls in love with the church again, all until she realizes her father and uncle have been taking church donations for their own use. Determined to avenge her aunt’s death as well as to do what’s right, she sets out on using her journalistic skills in uncovering the truth and bringing justice to the town.
The 2016 Tribeca Film Festival premiered the first episode to audiences on April 20, and it sure was gripping. Anything from drugs, sex, money, and of course, God, come into question when dealing with the Greenleaf family. It would be interesting to see how the series plays along with increased tensions between David’s and Dandridge’s character, as well as the whole of the series.
Check out our interviews with the cast below and be sure to check out the series on June 21.
Oprah Winfrey:
Keith David:
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Lovie Simone:
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