Whoopi Goldberg has never followed the script — and at 70, the EGOT-winning performer, activist and talk show host says she has no intention of starting now.
In a wide-ranging interview with Interview Magazine, Goldberg reflected on legacy, independence, activism and why being “big single” remains non-negotiable. From honoring Star Trek icon Nichelle Nichols to pitching herself as a horror movie monster, Goldberg made it clear she’s still driven by curiosity, not convention.
Still Chasing New Creative Ground
Despite decades at the top of entertainment, Goldberg says there are still genres she wants to explore — including horror.
“For years I’ve been trying to get somebody to write me a horror movie. I want to be the monster,” she said.
“I want to be the thing under the bed, and you are not thinking that it’s me because I’m so sweet. I’m Whoopi, but it’s Whoopi knocking people off left and right.”
For Goldberg, staying creative means staying unexpected — even now.
Activism Is Not a Trend
Goldberg also pushed back against the idea that social justice movements are recent or performative.
“None of us were woke,” she said. “They just woke up, but we’ve been up the whole time, watching their backs.”
She described activism as a lifelong commitment rather than a moment, shaped by decades of watching progress be questioned, dismissed or reframed as fashionable.
Nichelle Nichols and Representation
One of the most personal moments of the interview came when Goldberg spoke about Star Trek legend Nichelle Nichols and how seeing Lieutenant Uhura on screen changed everything for her.
“Lieutenant Uhura is the very first Black representation of us in the future,” Goldberg explained.
“And not only is she representing us, but she’s not a mammy. She is svelte and beautiful.”
Goldberg said she told Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry that Nichols had created the first Black person in the future — a realization that ultimately led to Goldberg joining Star Trek: The Next Generation herself.
Skeptical of the Digital Age
While still active and engaged, Goldberg admitted she remains wary of modern technology and artificial intelligence.
“I’m trying to fall in love with the internet, but I’m not a big fan of it,” she said.
“I’m not sure about what I’m seeing because I don’t know if it’s AI-generated.”
For Goldberg, authenticity matters — especially in an era where reality and fabrication increasingly blur.
Why She Chooses to Live Alone
Goldberg once again made her stance on relationships clear: she values independence above all else.
“I don’t want to live with anybody,” she said.
“I lived with my daughter. That’s all I can handle.”
She explained that while she loves people deeply, she doesn’t want to share space, schedules or decision-making.
“I’m not good at relationships because you have to think about other people,” she said, adding that society unfairly treats being single as a flaw.
“Most people are not comfortable being alone because we’ve been taught that there’s something wrong with you if you’re not a pair.”
In classic Whoopi fashion, she summed it up bluntly:
“Sometimes you just want to go and have some pasta. You don’t want to say, ‘Do you want red wine or white wine?’ I don’t give a f*ck what you want.”
Not Slowing Down Anytime Soon
Far from retreating, Goldberg says she still has “a zillion things” she wants to do — including naming an imaginary rollercoaster Whoops!.
For fans wondering whether she plans to step back, Goldberg’s answer is simple: curiosity keeps her moving.
And as long as there are new ideas, new fights and new stories to tell, Whoopi Goldberg isn’t going anywhere.
