Oprah Winfrey Says Sidney Poitier Would Be ‘Proud’ Of AppleTV+ Documentary: ‘This Is Us Memorializing Him, Celebrating Him, Honouring Him’
22.09.2022 - 17:17
/ etcanada.com
Oprah Winfrey and Sidney Poitier: two icons, one powerful story.
ET Canada is giving audiences an extensive look into the life and legacy of a legend in “Icons: Oprah Celebrates Sidney”, where Winfrey and director Reginald Hudlin exclusively share with ET Canada’s Cheryl Hickey the story behind the making of their new Apple TV+ documentary, “Sidney”.
READ MORE: ‘Sidney’: Oprah Winfrey-Produced Documentary About Sidney Poitier Gets First Trailer
Poitier was a trailblazer who smashed glass ceilings, racial barriers and became the first Black man to win an Academy award in 1963.
In 2002, he received an honourary Academy Award, and in 2009, the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama.
However, to Winfrey, Poitier was more than his achievements.
“There’s nobody I adored, admired, respected, and loved more,” she shared. “So, when Reginald came to me and asked, you know, would I be a part as a producer? I mean, you know, many times you have to think about things. It was an immediate… it was a yes that came right up out of my soul.”
Hudlin added, “I owe so much to him. I didn’t even understand what an integral part of my DNA it was until I started making the movie. And I said, Oh, wait a minute. He’s not just a great actor. He’s not just a great director and producer. He’s part of my DNA of how I define manhood.”
“His intelligence, his courage, his moral integrity. I can you know, I can use all ten fingers,” he continued. “My dad and Sidney Poitier is who I measured myself against. When I get the opportunity to tip my hat and give thanks to what he did for me and everyone else on this planet. Yeah, I’m in.”
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