KILLEEN, Texas — Christmas Day, a Killeen woman made her big screen debut in the 2023 adaptation of the film “The Color Purple” starring Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey among others.
“I'm still not over it," said Alishia Williams, 2020 graduate of Ellison High School in Killeen, Texas. “I was in The Color Purple, the one that just came out on Christmas Day.”
Williams was cast in "The Color Purple" as a dancer and a stand-in for Tamela Mann's character in 2021.
“I had to learn like what she was doing, I had to go to like the vocal lessons," said Williams.
Williams, is who is originally in Georgia but lived in Killeen since she was six-years-old said that she auditioned for the film in November 2021 and found out she cast later that week.
"It was funny because they never said 'congratulations, you made it,"' Williams explained. "They just started sending us fittings, schedules, all the numbers you could possibly be in."
She explained that after she did some filming, she was at her nine to five job whenever she got the call to be a stand-in for Tamela Mann's character
"The industry was very last minute. It's not like, 'Oh, can you come in next week?' It's like, can you come in in the next 15 minutes," Williams said and she told her job she had to leave.
"“I was just like, wow, I really get to be in this," said Williams.
Since the movies release, Williams said she has received plenty of positive feedback.
"It pushes me more because I'm like, I really have people like standing behind me supporting me,” Williams said.
One of her biggest supporters is her former dance coach, Neidra Lemon, owner of Freestyle Dance Studio in Killeen.
“She's a beast," Lemon says she’s been Williams dance coach since she was seven-year-old. "She's [Williams] been a beast since she was little.” “She used to come and take class with me and she actually will be in the adult class.”
From the adult class as a child to the big screen, Williams is making Central Texas proud she was also a dancer for pop star Lizzo while she was on tour. Williams encourages other to do the same and show of their talents.
“Find your passion and follow your dreams,” Williams said.
"The Color Purple" came out on Christmas Day and can be seen at various movie theaters across Central Texas.