All-Star Cast Includes Oprah Winfrey, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Rose Byrne and Others
Leslie Uggams is featured in HBO's original movie "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" starring Renee Elise Goldsberry as Henrietta and Oprah Winfrey as her daughter Deborah. Oprah also serves as executive producer. George C. Wolfe directs.
The Harpo Films drama (based on the bestseller by Rebecca Skloot) chronicles the story of Henrietta Lacks (Goldsberry), an African American woman whose cancerous cells were harvested in 1951 for research without her knowledge, approval, or compensation. To this day Lacks' cell line continues to lead to medical breakthroughs and life-saving treatments.
In the film Uggams plays Lacks' cousin and best friend Sadie. Winfrey plays Lacks' daughter who sets out to learn about the mother she never knew and the impact the unauthorized use of her cells has had on medicine. The star-studded cast also includes Rose Byrne as Rebecca Skloot, Courtney B. Vance, Melvin Van Peebles, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, John Douglas Thompson, Adriane Lenox, Reg E. Cathey, Reed Birney, and Roger Robinson.
For more information visit the official Henrietta Lacks/HBO website.