American actor Keith David has already played a preacher prior to his role as Bishop James Greenleaf in Oprah Winfrey's new TV show "Greenleaf," but there was something extra special about this church-centered drama that resonated with David.
During an interview with Winfrey, David says his role as Bishop James enabled him to "explore him [the preacher] more fully than most other ones I've played before. What I love about this exploration is that this preacher is just a man. Either you want to be like him or you don't want to be like him — that's ministry."
David got to memorise and preach scripture while portraying Bishop James, and it's something that the actor appreciates. "Being able to find a scripture that's going to be significant for today, and for your life right now and to resonate, it's wonderful," he shares. "Fun doesn't even begin to describe [it]. I'm having a ball!"
For her part, Winfrey told David that she immediately thought of him after reading the script. "I'm so thrilled that you said yes, because from the very first moment I read the first word, I heard your voice as the bishop. I never heard anything else, I never wanted to look at any other actor," she says.
Winfrey not only executive produced the series, but she also starred in it as jazz club owner Aunt Mavis. Winfrey says she based the character on her good friend Maya Angelou, the poet and author who passed away in 2014 at the age of 86.
"Mavis lives with a certain assurance there is an order to things," the famed talk show host said of her character. "I modelled her after my beloved friend and mentor, the late, great Maya Angelou. If Maya had a bar, she would be Mavis."
"Greenleaf" will make its premiere on June 21.
