Lynn Whitfield

Award won Role or nomination

1. 1953 age 0

   Born

2. 1985 age 32

   CreditSilverado

3. 1987 age 34

   CreditJaws: The Revenge

4. 1998 age 45

   CreditStepmom

• WFWendy Finerman1 title
• RARosanna Arquette1 title
• MCMichael Caine1 title
• SGScott Glenn1 title
• JWJohn Williams1 title
• CCChris Columbus1 title
• JCJohn Cleese1 title
• ECEleanor Columbus1 title
• MBMichael Barnathan1 title
• JGJeff Goldblum1 title

• Well, I think it showed them that I could deliver a performance and carry a film. But I don’t think that the natural progression was as aggressive as it should’ve been. Yes, it was something that at least people understood legitimized me as artist.

  Lynn Whitfield, CC BY-SA 4.0

• No, I don’t. I’ve had to get used to it because I’m on television every week now. Actually, sometimes I just forget it’s me on the screen, and I’m just looking at the character. That’s the only way I can watch… I’ve got to remember that.

  Lynn Whitfield, CC BY-SA 4.0

• Well, what “Greenleaf” has to say about what’s happening today is that man is only human, full of complexity, and is guaranteed at some point or another to be disappointing. I wouldn’t even want to imagine what’s going on in the White House behind closed doors in the family quarters right now. And so we are not encumbered to follow a man, a personality, it is incumbent upon us for the highest good of our souls, for the highest good of our country, to follow the principles that are fair for everyone. So in “Greenleaf” it’s not the Bishop that you’re following; it’s not the first family of the church that you’re following. Their job is to bring souls to salvation, bring souls to a personal relationship with God. So I think it sort of demystifies this idea of leadership.

  Lynn Whitfield, CC BY-SA 4.0

• I agree with that, absolutely. Really what she’s doing is admirable and aspirational. What her Achilles Heel is that she thinks that she knows what’s best for everyone. She has dedicated her life to building that church, to supporting and protecting Bishop, to building a beautiful home for the family and not really paying attention to the fact that she was called to preach herself and then ripped away. She was on her way to theological school when she decided to marry Bishop and canceled all that. So I absolutely agree with you, and I can’t tell you but I’m quite impressed at your observation.

  Lynn Whitfield, CC BY-SA 4.0

• I enjoy jumping into a psyche that is not my own, because I don’t live by codes of the street. I don’t resolve my pain with vengeance. And I’m a terrible shot with a gun [laughs]. So, none of that is me. But I very much enjoy experiencing the parts of Alicia that are not like me.

  Lynn Whitfield, CC BY-SA 4.0

• Sometimes in this business, you can doubt whether you’re appreciated or not… But [the fact] that I’m continuing to do [the work], I don’t have a lot of time to think about it. To look back on things, because I’m looking forward

  Lynn Whitfield, CC BY-SA 4.0