Oprah Winfrey Talks 'Greenleaf' Characters' Spiritual Distractions
As Oprah Winfrey's church drama "Greenleaf" gears up for another season, the media tycoon admits that the characters on the show have forgotten God amid all of the chaos in their lives.
The family drama is centered around a Memphis megachurch called Calvary Fellowship World Ministries led by Bishop James Greenleaf (Keith David, "Enlisted" and "Community") and Lady Mae Greenleaf (Lynn Whitfield, "The Josephine Baker Story"). Winfrey also stars in the series as Mavis McCready, Lady May's sister. Last season, viewers witnessed scandal surrounding sexual abuse weaved in storylines featuring sex, lies and drama.
In an interview with TV Insider, Winfrey revealed that the fictional family embeded in the megachurch are not focusing on God to help them through their issues.
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"This family has lost its way. They really love God, but now they are functioning out of fear and ego," Winfrey revealed. "It'll be quite an adventure for them to get back to remembering, with humility, where the true power lies. But, for now, they are spiritually distracted."
Actress Merle Dandridge, who plays daughter Grace in the series, said she could see parallels between the Greenleaf family refusing to turn to God in the midst of their struggles and Christians doing the same in real life.
"I've met many people in the ministry who are in the machine and talkin' the talk. But what is their personal relationship with God?" she asked in the interview with TV Insider.
During a Q&A with the reporters last year, co-creator and Winfrey explained why she believed creating a series centered around the church was important.
"I think it's a platform that nobody has actually explored. I grew up in the black church, I wouldn't be who I am without it," said Winfrey. "My speaking to the writers room on the very first day and my conversations with [creator Craig Wright] were all about, 'look this is not just a church. It's the nurse, doctor, lawyer, psychologist, our therapy, nurturer, support, it's our rock."
Season two of "Greenleaf" premieres on OWN at 10 p.m. ET/PT March 15.
