The Cast and Characters of Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

Title Card - 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.


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)

Sarah Breedlove aka Madam CJ Walker (Octavia Spencer) at the market.

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)

Addie Monroe (Carmen Ejogo) talking to Sarah.

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)

CJ (Blair Underwood) looking at his wife freak out.

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)

Lelia (Tiffany Haddish) looking worried, after the house burned down.

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)

John (J. Alphonse Nicholson) looking dumbfounded after he burnt down Sarah's house.

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.

Additional Information About John

  •  

John Quotes


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