Oprah Winfrey says debuting in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 movie “The Color Purple” resulted in one of the most meaningful paychecks she’s ever earned.

Winfrey sat down with Essence for a cover story published Tuesday to discuss the upcoming movie musical (which she’s executive producing) based on Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer-winning novel, and revisited her experience debuting on the big screen as Sofia.

“This is a full-circle moment,” said Winfrey, who landed an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of the defiant Sofia. The film, she said, “changed everything.”

Winfrey was joined by Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson and H.E.R. from the movie musical’s cast while discussing the forthcoming project. “This story lives forever,” said Henson, who takes on the role Shug Avery in the 2023 film reimagining of the novel. “It’s like Shakespeare. It’s never going to go away.”

Three years after Walker’s acclaimed novel was published, Spielberg pivoted away from his usual blockbusters to helm a film adaptation. The movie earned 11 Oscar nominations, and then went on to be adapted into a Broadway musical in 2005 and again in 2015.

“I can’t even begin to tell you what it means to me — a person who wanted nothing more in my life than to be in ‘The Color Purple.’ And God taught me to surrender — that was the big lesson for me,” Winfrey said. “They were only offering $35,000 to be in this film, and it is the best $35,000 I ever earned. It changed everything and taught me so much. It is God moving through my life.”

Winfrey’s 1985 character will be played by “Orange Is the New Black” star Brooks, who played Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson in the prison drama. Brooks thanked the actor and television host for “leaving space for me but also being there, to hold my hand and answer that phone call when I needed you.”