'12 Years' Star Alfre Woodard: 'You're Never Too Young For The Truth'
Alfre Woodard has been a familiar face on television over the course of her three decade career. She was up for an Emmy award Sunday night for role in the Lifetime movie Steel Magnolias. She didn't win that one, but she still has on her mantle previous Emmys for programs like The Practice and LA Law. Woodard also remains a powerful presence on the big screen, as evidenced by her Oscar nomination for the 1983 film Cross Creek and roles in acclaimed features like Primal Fear and Love & Basketball.
Now she returns with a disarming and provocative role in 12 Years a Slave, which opens in theaters on October 18. It's the highly anticipated film by director Steve McQueen, based on a true story about a free black man who was kidnapped into slavery in the 1800s.
Woodard spoke with Tell Me More host Michel Martin about the beauty and brutality of 12 Years a Slave, and how she's not always the serious actress people may see her as.