Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has joined the cast of the Martin Luther King biopic Selma.
Winfrey had previously signed on to produce the project, but will now also act in the film as Annie Lee Cooper, the civil rights protester who tried to register to vote but was denied.
Oprah will be reunited with her The Butler co-star David Oyelowo, who will play Martin Luther King.
Cuba Gooding Jr. has also joined the film and will play King’s attorney and fellow activist, Fred Gray.
Tim Roth, is also set to star as Alabama governor George Wallace – a supporter of racial segregation.
Winfrey recently said that civil rights protester Maya Angelou, who recently passed away, gave the film her blessing.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Winfrey said:
“She was so proud that I was doing this movie. And she said, ‘Take it baby. Take it all the way. Take it all the way’.
“She was a part of the movement, worked with Martin Luther King, understood what we were trying to do with this film.”
Selma is yet to announce a release date.
