Whoopi Goldberg says rejected Hollywood roles helped define her legendary career

Whoopi Goldberg has revealed that some of the most memorable roles of her career came only after other Hollywood stars turned them down, explaining that she learned early on to ask her agents for projects that had already been rejected.

Speaking with actress Keke Palmer on Palmer’s podcast, the EGOT winner reflected on the obstacles she faced breaking into Hollywood, her Oscar-winning performance in Ghost, and how films originally intended for actors such as Bette Midler, Bruce Willis and Shelley Long ultimately became defining moments in her own career.

Patrick Swayze fought for her casting in Ghost

Goldberg recalled that she was not originally considered a favorite to play psychic Oda Mae Brown in the 1990 supernatural romance Ghost.

She said she learned that numerous Black actresses were auditioning for the role before discovering that producers had decided against casting her because they believed her star presence would distract audiences from the story.

According to Goldberg, casting directors Janet Hirshenson and Jane Jenkins continued to advocate for her, while leading man Patrick Swayze became one of her strongest supporters.

She remembered Swayze traveling to Alabama, where she was filming The Long Walk Home, to spend time with her before production. Their meeting ultimately helped convince filmmakers to offer her the role.

The decision proved pivotal. Goldberg won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making Oda Mae Brown one of the most celebrated performances of her career.

Sister Act was originally developed for Bette Midler

Goldberg also revealed that another signature role almost belonged to someone else.

She explained that Sister Act had originally been developed with Bette Midler in mind before circumstances changed.

Laughing with Palmer, Goldberg dismissed the idea that she had taken the role from Midler.

“I was looking for work,” she said.

Midler has previously confirmed that she declined the film because she believed audiences did not want to see her portraying a nun. Goldberg ultimately embraced the opportunity, turning Sister Act into one of the biggest comedy hits of the 1990s.

Rejected scripts became unexpected opportunities

After repeatedly hearing that certain projects “weren’t for her,” Goldberg said she adopted a different strategy.

She instructed her representatives to send her scripts that other actors had already rejected rather than waiting for traditional casting opportunities.

That approach led to several notable films.

Goldberg said the comedy Burglar had originally been intended for Bruce Willis, while Jumpin’ Jack Flash had initially been associated with Shelley Long.

Instead of viewing those circumstances negatively, Goldberg believed the projects still had value and deserved another chance with a different performer.

She said she wanted to see what she could bring to stories that studios still believed in after their first-choice stars declined.

She says Hollywood underestimated her range

Reflecting on the early stages of her career, Goldberg suggested many industry executives had limited expectations regarding the kinds of roles Black actresses could play.

She joked, “Apparently I’m Black,” before explaining that many opportunities were dismissed simply because decision-makers assumed certain roles were not meant for her.

Goldberg believes that many producers had not seen her acclaimed one-woman Broadway show, which showcased her dramatic and comedic versatility before her film career took off.

Although not every movie became a major box-office success, she noted that many later found devoted audiences through television broadcasts, eventually becoming beloved classics.

A career built on perseverance

Goldberg’s comments offer a glimpse into the persistence that helped shape one of Hollywood’s most accomplished careers.

Rather than waiting for ideal opportunities, she built a résumé by embracing projects others had overlooked, eventually earning an Academy Award, multiple Golden Globes, Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards and Tony recognition.

Many of those once-unexpected casting decisions including Ghost, Sister Act and Jumpin’ Jack Flash remain among the performances most closely associated with her decades-long career.

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