Watch Oprah Winfrey in First Teaser for HBO's 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks'

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HBO

Oprah Winfrey is paying tribute to an important piece of history in her latest role.

HBO has released the first teaser for The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which features the media mogul in a powerful role as Lack's daughter, Deborah.


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The new film, based on Rebecca Skloot's 2010 book of the same name, explores the story of Henrietta Lacks and the immortal cell line that is derived from samples taken from her without her knowledge.

In 1951, Lacks had a biopsy taken from her cervix after giving birth. Doctors took two samples while treating a malignant epidermoid carcinoma, one of cancerous cells and one healthy. The cancerous cells became the base of an immortal cell line known as HeLa, which has been used across the world for medical research.

Lacks died at age 31 the same year, but it wasn't until decades later that her daughter, Deborah, investigated her mother's history with the help of Skloot and became aware of the incredible use of her cells.

Watch the teaser below.


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Winfrey executive produces and acts in the new film, which also stars Renée Elise Goldsberry as Lacks and Rose Byrne as Skloot. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks will air on April 22 on HBO.

A new HBO film isn't the only gig Winfrey has landed recently. The iconic TV host has also been announced as a special contributor for CBS News' 60 Minutes. Find out more in the video below.

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