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

Phylicia Pearl Mpasi (born 16 November 1993)[1] is an American actress best known for her debut role as Celie Harris-Johnson in the 2023 film version of The Color Purple.

Early life and education

Phylicia Pearl Mpasi was born in Silver Spring, Maryland,[2] and is the daughter of immigrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Growing up, she sang in her church choir.[3]

She attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic High School in Olney, Maryland, and graduated in 2011.[4] She then went on to complete her undergraduate studies at Elon University, where she graduated from the theater program in 2015.[5] While at Elon, the musical version of The Color Purple was part of the program's curriculum.[6]

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.[3] 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.[7]

In 2021, she initially auditioned for the role of adult Celie for the film adaptation of the musical The Color Purple. After the role went to Fantasia Barrino, Mpasi went on to audition for the role of young Celie, which she was awarded. She had also previously auditioned for roles in the Broadway musical when starting her career.[8]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2023 The Color Purple Celie Film debut

Theater

Year Title Role Notes
2015-2020 The Lion King Various

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Project Result Ref.
2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture The Color Purple Pending [9]

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. ↑ "Phylicia Pearl Mpasi". Playbill. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 "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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ Williams, Alexis P. (2023-12-22). "To Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, her debut in 'The Color Purple' feels 'meant to be'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  9. ↑ "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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