King Richard Actor Aunjanue Ellis Explains How Her Niece Was Influenced by Serena Williams

Serena Williams and Venus Williams are two of the most respected and lovers players on the Tour. Another chapter in their brilliant legacy was the 2021 docu-drama “King Richard.” The movie portrayed the story of how Serena and Venus’ father Richard Williams coached them to become the exceptional athletes they are today. 

Recently, the cast and crew spoke about the film in an interview. In the interview, actor Aunjanue Ellis, who plays Oracene Price in the film, spoke about how the movie was a great influence on her niece. 

“Well, what would Serena do?” Aunjanue Ellis talks about Serena Williams’ impact   

Aunjanue Ellis played Serena and Venus’ mother and co-coach in the movie. In past media interactions, Ellis has talked about how Oracene’s role in Serena and Venus’ lives isn’t highlighted enough. Their mother learned how to become a tennis coach and played a pivotal role in their early training, but unfortunately, she doesn’t often get her flowers from tennis fans.  

Aunjanue elaborated on how the movie influenced her niece to get up and go for her gymnastics classes.

She explained, “The night that it came out, my niece, nine, watched the movie at least two times, from what I understand. While she was in the bath, she watched it again. The next morning she had to go to gymnastics and she told my sister she said that ‘I don’t feel like going’ and my sister said to her, ‘well, what would Serena do?’ and my niece was like, ‘okay. all right. I’ll go’. That’s all I needed. That movie was a direct inspiration for my niece to get up on Saturday morning and go to gymnastics.”

The American actress also spoke about the film’s production, calling it a “group effort.” As she told the story, Will Smith, who played Richard Williams in the movie, laughed agreeingly because he knew the kind of impact that the incredible Serena can have on people. 

Also read- ‘Feels Like a New Dream’: Serena Williams Reacts to King Richard and Will Smith’s New Feat