Whoopi Goldberg, How I Love You! Let Me Count The Ways...

Whoopi Goldberg. How many of us in the civilised world have not heard this name? Not many!

I wanted to write this post a few weeks ago, but I am easily distracted and forgot. Oops!

You see, a few weeks ago I watched a film with the gorgeous Whoopi, and was just blown away.

The film was Boys On The Side, a 1995 production also starring Drew Barrymore and Mary-Louise Parker.

The film focuses on the three women, and the friendship that develops between them, while they deal with their own, and each other's, tribulations. Whoopi is a gay club singer, Drew is running from an unhappy life of abuse and Mary-Louise is living with a diagnosis of HIV.

Drew seems to be the child of the group, with the other two women at times seeming to be mother figures, as opposed to friends. Whoopi is in love with Mary-Louise, who, although is very fond of Whoopi, does not share her strong feelings.

I am reluctant to describe how the film plays out, because you should rent it and watch it with your undivided attention. Every plot twist and turn should be a fresh, crisp surprise, as in real life.

Boys On The Side is not without faults, but it's strengths are many, and you will love it. I promise.

So what blew me away? The first thing was how pretty Whoopi was in the film. The way she interacts with the other characters, her evident acting skill in an under-stated performance and how she simply presents herself on screen is stunning.

Secondly, there is a scene where Whoopi sings Roy Orbison's You Got It. Mary-Louise is ill, and Whoopi's singing conveys all her love, her pain and her fear, piercing my heart and causing in me a soul-deep ache.





Born as Caryn Elaine Johnson, Whoopi has had a very interesting career.

She starred in The Color Purple, one of my all time favourite movies. A rumour has it that Whoopi was offered the chance to audition for The Color Purple, following a comedy routine titled "If E.T. Landed In Oakland", at which Steven Spielberg was in attendance in the audience.

She was also in Ghost, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Sister Act and even became a recurring character in the Star Trek franchise, as Guinan, in "The Next Generation" series and films. A huge Sci-Fi fan, I love, love, love that Whoopi became such an important character in the Star Trek Universe.

Of course, I think most people know Whoopi was also a stand-up comic to trade, and has spent time treading the boards in Broadway, as well as doing a lot of voice-over work, for example as Shenzi in The Lion King. But I doubt many people know she was also a brick-layer and a funeral parlour assistant, before she made it big.

Whoopi has been awarded much recognition for her talent and contribution to T.V., Film and Stage, including two Daytime Emmy's (nominated for eight), has been nominated for two Academy Awards, has won two Golden Globes, a Grammy Award, three People's Choice Awards, two American Comedy Awards, the Mark Twain Prize For American Humour, a Tony Award and an Oscar.

She is an author (I bought her book titled "Book", many years ago), a singer, has her own production company, is a political activist for civil & equal rights and really appears to be able to do anything she puts her mind to. Not bad for someone who at one point was addicted to heroin.

Nowadays Whoopi co-hosts The View as what is seen as a senior member of the discussion panel, along with the famous journalist Barbara Walters, who is also an executive producer of the show.

Whoopi reportedly said that she would have done almost anything before getting the gig of hosting The View, due to money being tight. I like The View. It is easy viewing, but I do consider it as being overly manufactured and displays, in my humble opinion, questionable journalism at best. It seems geared towards commercialising topical debate and is too heavily scripted.

Whoopi, though, continues to bring her independent thought and natural warmth, and shows all around her how to be a valuable asset to such a media vehicle.

I fear Whoopi will get comfortable at The View. It would be fine for her, I'm sure, as she is getting older and we all deserve to be "comfortable". However, does this mean she will no longer produce true movie gems?

I hope not.

Oh Whoopi, how I love you! Let me count the ways...