Tyler Perry opens up about Oprah Winfrey's acting in 'The Six Triple Eight'

Oprah Winfrey may be a media mogul, but on the set of The Six Triple Eight, she fully embraced her role as an actor, deferring to longtime friend and director Tyler Perry.

While speaking at the Los Angeles premiere on December 3, Perry revealed that Winfrey approached her role like any dedicated actor.

In regards to this, he told People, “She wanted to know she was doing a great job, and she did fantastic.”

Moreover, The Six Triple Eight tells the inspiring true story of the only all-Black Women’s Army Corps battalion to serve in Europe during World War 2.

Tasked with sorting through 17 million undelivered letters, the 855 women of the battalion played a vital role in boosting soldier morale with the motto, “No mail, low morale.”

According to the publication, Winfrey portrays civil rights icon and educator Mary McLeod Bethune, a key figure who, alongside first lady Eleanor Roosevelt (played by Susan Sarandon), persuaded President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Sam Waterston) to send the unit overseas.

Additionally, the project marks Perry’s first time directing his friend of two decades.

While they’ve collaborated on multiple projects for Winfrey’s OWN Network, this film offered a unique opportunity, as Perry shared, “I’ve been looking for years to bring her something she could lean into.”

Furthermore, the film, co-written by Perry, featured Kerry Washington as Major Charity Adams, the determined leader of the battalion.

It is worth mentioning that Perry praised Winfrey’s performance by saying, “To have her embody Mary McLeod Bethune and do such a great job is wonderful.”

The Six Triple Eight is set to premiere on Netflix on December 20.