Whoopi Goldberg

You recently returned to the UK stage. What stayed with you from that experience?

The truth of the matter is: it’s possible, but I don’t remember everywhere I’ve performed in the UK, because there have been several different places and they’ve not all been together… so it’s been a little while! But I looked forward to it because I think I have some fun stuff to talk about — mostly about myself and my foolishness and my crazy little weird life. So I really looked forward to it, and maybe having a new adventure in Wales and England.

“I have some fun stuff to talk about… mostly about myself.”

That tour also included sharing the stage with Jennifer Saunders. What did that mean to you?

I looked forward to just sitting on stage with Jennifer Saunders, who, to me, is just one of the all-time great funny women. And just talking to her. I hadn’t talked to her in forever, so I was excited about that. Very, very excited about that.

Your voice is famously unfiltered, particularly on The View. What version of you did audiences see on this tour?

Let me be very clear — I didn’t bring any stories from The View. That’s a whole other… that’s a different world from what I’m doing right now. I’m talking about me and the stuff that’s, y’know, got me going nuts. You know — ageing, all those great things! That’s what I’m into. That’s what I talked about. Hopefully, people will be able to relate to some of this stuff because it doesn’t really matter where you are.

“It doesn’t really matter where you are.”

Ageing comes up a lot in your recent work. Why talk about it now?

When you’re growing up, it’s tough, man. It’s hard to be a grown-up — that’s what we’re all facing. And that’s what I’m talking about.

After decades of interviews, do questions — or answers — still surprise you?

I’m not sure. I’ve been around a long time, and people have asked me any number of insane questions, and I’ve probably given equally insane answers. But I don’t really remember them. It’s like when people come up and say lines from my movies to me; often, I have no idea what they’re talking about. This is what happens when you get old!

“It’s hard to be a grown-up — that’s what we’re all facing.”

Having received some of the biggest awards in entertainment, how do you personally measure success?

Any time I can work, it means a lot to me. If somebody gives me an award for it, you know, for ten seconds I’m sceptical, but then I figure this is what they want to do and I’m open to it. Because awards are great, but they’re subject to other people’s opinions. So I try to stick to my own opinions, and all of the awards are hidden on the third floor of my house. It’s like a treasure — you have to go on a treasure hunt! But they’re all there.

“Awards are great, but they’re subject to other people’s opinions.”

Looking back, which projects challenged you most — and which rewarded you in ways you never expected?

I think the most challenging was a film called For Colored Girls. And the most rewarding was The Lion King, because I got to hang out with my little kid, my granddaughter. She must’ve been maybe six or seven. We’re sitting there, and James Earl Jones is next to us. I introduce her and say, “Hey! This is Simba’s dad.” And he says, “Hello, Amara,” in that very James Earl Jones voice. She freaks out. I say, “What’s the matter?” and she whispers back, “Darth Vader.” You know? That’s the kind of stuff that’s rewarding to me. Not because he was Simba’s dad — but because he was Darth Vader. Gotta love it.

Whoopi Goldberg is an actor, comedian and EGOT winner known for films including Ghost and The Color Purple, and as a longtime co-host of The View.

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Interview by Carl Marsh