Whoopi Goldberg has revealed the surprising story behind one of her most memorable movie roles, explaining that Sister Act was not originally created with her in mind.
During an appearance on the podcast Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, the 70-year-old actress shared that the hit 1992 comedy was first written for Bette Midler.
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Goldberg said she was not specifically pursuing the part but was simply looking for acting opportunities when the role became available.
The actress explained that many of her biggest projects started as roles intended for other performers. Instead of limiting herself, she began asking her representatives about parts that other actors had passed on.
That approach helped her discover several successful opportunities, including Burglar, a project originally developed for Bruce Willis, and Jumpin’ Jack Flash, which had previously been considered for Shelley Long.
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Midler later explained that she declined the Sister Act role because she was uncomfortable with the idea of appearing in a nun’s habit, allowing Goldberg to step into the character of lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier.
Released in 1992, Sister Act became a major success and was followed by Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit in 1993.
A third installment has been in development, with Disney announcing plans for another sequel and Tyler Perry attached as a producer.
Goldberg’s story highlights how some of Hollywood’s most iconic performances come from unexpected opportunities and the willingness to embrace roles others leave behind.