The Cast and Characters of Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
A guide for Netflix’s Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker featuring who plays who, character descriptions, and other noteworthy information.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.
A guide for Netflix’s Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker featuring who plays who, character descriptions, and other noteworthy information.
Please Note: This content contains pertinent spoilers, descriptions are updated as new information is presented, images changed as better ones are captured, and this is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, guest star, or reoccurring role.
When you see #.#, that notes the season.episode (Example: Season 1, Episode 1 would be 1.1).
General Information
|
Network |
Netflix |
|
Creator(s) |
Nicole Asher |
|
First Aired |
3/20/2020 |
|
Hashtag |
#SelfMade |
Groups & Organizations
Notable Locations
St. Louis
Where the show starts, and Sarah grew up and met CJ.
Indianapolis
Where, in the first episode, Sarah and CJ move to start Sarah’s haircare business.
Terms To Know
Sarah Breedlove aka Madam C.J. Walker (Octavia Spencer)
Character Description
First Noted In: Episode 1: The Fight of the Century
Born two years after emancipation, orphaned at 7, married by 14, pregnant at 15, and widowed by 20, Sarah struggled in life and washed other people’s clothing to make a way. And in working hard and trying to keep a man, her hair fell out. But, thanks to Addie Monroe, she not only regained her hair but discovered there was an industry made for Black women. Granted, an untapped industry, but with Sarah looking more like the Black women Addie serviced, she used that to make herself an empire.
Additional Information About Sarah
Sarah Quotes
I used to wonder, if God don’t like ugly, why did he make me? With so much beauty in this world, how come I got so little?
— Sarah (Season 1, Episode 1 “The Fight of the Century”
Everything we do as Negroes reflects back on us.
— Sarah (Season 1, Episode 1 “The Fight of the Century”
Addie Monroe (Carmen Ejogo)
Character Description
First Noted In: Episode 1: The Fight of the Century
A woman who has ridden the coattails of being light skinned and used it to advertise a hair care product that relied on old beliefs of being light-skinned meaning more beautiful to profit.
Additional Information About Addie
Addie Quotes
Charles James “CJ” (Blair Underwood)
Character Description
First Noted In: Episode 1: The Fight of the Century
Sarah’s second husband, who she gained after using Addie’s haircare product. By trade, the man is in advertising and is shown to be one of the people who allowed Sarah to flourish in the haircare industry.
Additional Information About CJ
CJ Quotes
Lelia (Tiffany Haddish)
Character Description
First Noted In: Episode 1: The Fight of the Century
Sarah’s daughter, who she put through school and had such high hopes for.
Additional Information About Lelia
Lelia Quotes
John (J. Alphonse Nicholson)
Character Description
First Noted In: Episode 1: The Fight of the Century
Lelia’s first husband who was a musician with aspirations to open up a juke joint at one time.
