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Beloved (1998) - This film adaptation of Toni Morrison's classic novel marked Oprah Winfrey's debut as a film producer. The media mogul, who also starred in the film, was instrumental in bringing this story, about a former slave grappling with freedom and the tragedy of her past, to the silver screen. Marking the 14th anniversary of this note-worthy drama, here's a peek at the cast who brought an epic piece of American literature to the movies. (Photo: Harpo Productions)

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Toni Morrison  - Oprah Winfrey offered Beloved's author Toni Morrison a blank check — telling her to choose her price — for the film rights to the novel. The Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning scribe, while continuing to publish novels like Love (2002) and A Mercy (2008), was awarded a 2012 Presidential Medal of Freedom.  (Photo: Francois Durand/Getty Images)

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Oprah Winfrey - Oprah Winfrey starred as Sethe, the former slave who's haunted by the ghost and memory of her murdered child. After 25 years of hosting The Oprah Winfrey Show, the former talk show queen founded her OWN network which, after struggling with ratings, has experienced a viewer upswing. Winfrey will return to the big screen in Lee Daniels's The Butler in 2013. (Photo: Hall/Pena, PacificCoastNews.co)

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Danny Glover - The role of Sethe's beau, Paul D, went to Danny Glover. The veteran actor continued his already illustrious career, starring in the Oscar-winning film Dreamgirls and a host of upcoming projects like Supremacy. He will direct the just-announced film Toussaint. (Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis)

Photo By Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty

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Thandie Newton - Thandie Newton was cast as Sethe's ghostly daughter Beloved. Following the film, the London-raised actress became one of Hollywood's most skilled actresses, tackling the role of Condoleezza Rice in 2008's W. and the sultry Tangie in Tyler Perry's film For Colored Girls. She was recently cast in the upcoming series Rogue. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Kimberly Elise - Kimberly Elise played Sethe's daughter Denver. The acting heavyweight has displayed some of her most intense acting in Tyler Perry productions like Diary of a Mad Black Woman and For Colored Girls. She just completed filming the upcoming dramedy Highland Park. (Photo: Valerie Macon/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Valerie Macon/Getty Images

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Beah Richards - Sethe's mother-in-law Suggs was played by Beah Richards. This would be the pioneering actress' final film role before dying of emphysema in 2000. Fortunately, before her passing her life was the subject of the documentary Beah: A Black Woman Speaks. Along with her acting career, which included roles in groundbreaking films like Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, the doc also discussed her activism alongside Paul Robeson. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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LisaGay Hamilton - LisaGay Hamilton played young Sethe. The Obie Award-winning thespian has garnered most of her notable roles in TV series like The Practice, Law & Order: SVU and Men of a Certain Age. She also directed the Beah Richards documentary Beah: A Black Woman Speaks. On the big screen, she will star in the film Beyond Redemption. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Brian Hooks  - Brian Hooks starred as the young Paul D. Unfortunately, this role would also be Hooks' most substantial. Afterward, he was cast in films (mostly comedies) like 3 Strikes and Soul Plane. He just completed filming the romantic comedy The Love Section. (Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)

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Jonathan Demme - Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme helmed Beloved. Since then, Demme has directed Rachel Getting Married and the remake of The Manchurian Candidate. He's also directed documentaries like Jimmy Carter Man of Plains. (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)