Madam C.J. Walker and Her Villa Get the Hollywood Treatment
Oscar winner Octavia Spencer and Netflix are bringing the trailblazing African American entrepreneur’s story to life
When America’s first self-made female millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker, built her sprawling New York estate on the banks of the Hudson River in 1918, she wanted it to be seen. Instead of designing her mansion to highlight the scenic surrounding views, Walker positioned Villa Lewaro so it would be visible to travelers. Walker, a beauty magnate and trailblazing African American businesswoman, wanted to inspire fellow African Americans at a time when racism and discrimination was common.
Next month, Walker and her historic home, or a version of it, will be on display again and ready to inspire an even wider audience when Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, a miniseries based on Walker’s life, debuts on Netflix. Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer will play Walker in the series, which premieres on the streaming service March 20.
Next month, Walker and her historic home, or a version of it, will be on display again and ready to inspire an even wider audience when Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, a miniseries based on Walker’s life, debuts on Netflix. Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer will play Walker in the series, which premieres on the streaming service March 20.
Photos from the Madam Walker family archives except where noted. Photo by David Bohl, Historic New England
“[Walker] built her mansion, she said, not for personal aggrandizement but rather ‘to convince members of my race of the wealth of business possibilities, to point to young Negroes what a lone woman accomplished and to inspire them to do big things,’” Bundles wrote.
Madam C.J. Walker’s Villa Lewaro: A Beacon for Women
“[Walker] built her mansion, she said, not for personal aggrandizement but rather ‘to convince members of my race of the wealth of business possibilities, to point to young Negroes what a lone woman accomplished and to inspire them to do big things,’” Bundles wrote.
Madam C.J. Walker’s Villa Lewaro: A Beacon for Women
Photo by Amanda Matlovich, Netflix
Self Made, produced by Spencer and basketball superstar LeBron James, among others, is inspired by Bundles’ book On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker. Alongside Spencer, the limited series will star Blair Underwood as Walker’s husband, Tiffany Haddish as her daughter, Leila, Garrett Morris as Walker’s father-in-law, Carmen Ejogo as Walker’s business rival Addie Monroe, Kevin Carroll as her lawyer Ransom and Bill Bellamy as Ransom’s cousin Sweetness.
Self Made, produced by Spencer and basketball superstar LeBron James, among others, is inspired by Bundles’ book On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker. Alongside Spencer, the limited series will star Blair Underwood as Walker’s husband, Tiffany Haddish as her daughter, Leila, Garrett Morris as Walker’s father-in-law, Carmen Ejogo as Walker’s business rival Addie Monroe, Kevin Carroll as her lawyer Ransom and Bill Bellamy as Ransom’s cousin Sweetness.
Madam C.J. Walker
Walker was born Sarah Breedlove in 1867 in Louisiana, the first member of her family not born into slavery. She was orphaned at 7 years old and widowed by her first husband at 20. Until age 38, she was a washerwoman.
Walker was born Sarah Breedlove in 1867 in Louisiana, the first member of her family not born into slavery. She was orphaned at 7 years old and widowed by her first husband at 20. Until age 38, she was a washerwoman.
Walker’s sales agents and employees at Villa Lewaro in 1924
After losing much of her hair due to a scalp infection in 1906, Walker developed a shampoo and an ointment to fight dandruff and promote hair growth. She established her company headquarters in Indianapolis in 1910. By 1916, thousands of sales agents sold Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower.
After losing much of her hair due to a scalp infection in 1906, Walker developed a shampoo and an ointment to fight dandruff and promote hair growth. She established her company headquarters in Indianapolis in 1910. By 1916, thousands of sales agents sold Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower.
Photo by Amanda Matlovich, Netflix
As Walker told the National Negro Business League Convention in 1912: “I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations. … I have built my own factory on my own ground.”
As Walker told the National Negro Business League Convention in 1912: “I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations. … I have built my own factory on my own ground.”
Walker and her daughter, A’Lelia Walker Robinson, opened a beauty school and branch office in New York. They worked with Vertner Woodson Tandy, the first licensed black architect in New York state, to design their Harlem business and later, Villa Lewaro.
The 20,000-square-foot neo-Palladian white stucco mansion cost $250,000 to build in 1918, or about $4.5 million today. Inside, it was decorated with an estimated $100,000 worth of artwork and furnishings, or $1.8 million today.
A New Era for African American Trailblazer Madam Walker’s Villa
The 20,000-square-foot neo-Palladian white stucco mansion cost $250,000 to build in 1918, or about $4.5 million today. Inside, it was decorated with an estimated $100,000 worth of artwork and furnishings, or $1.8 million today.
A New Era for African American Trailblazer Madam Walker’s Villa
A chandelier at Villa Lewaro
Among its many luxurious features are marble floors, a solarium, grand chandeliers, stained-glass windows and an ornate music salon frequented by famous artists and activists of the day.
Among its many luxurious features are marble floors, a solarium, grand chandeliers, stained-glass windows and an ornate music salon frequented by famous artists and activists of the day.
Walker had architect Tandy install this $25,000 Estey organ in Villa Lewaro and pipe it throughout the house.
As work gets underway at the home to restore the mansion and convert it into Dennis’ female-focused think tank, Bundles has said she sees the development as a full-circle moment. “Just as Madam C.J. Walker called Villa Lewaro her ‘dream of dreams,’ Sundial Chief Executive Richelieu Dennis’ plan for the home to become a convening place for women entrepreneurs is a dream come true for me,” Bundles told Houzz last year.
As work gets underway at the home to restore the mansion and convert it into Dennis’ female-focused think tank, Bundles has said she sees the development as a full-circle moment. “Just as Madam C.J. Walker called Villa Lewaro her ‘dream of dreams,’ Sundial Chief Executive Richelieu Dennis’ plan for the home to become a convening place for women entrepreneurs is a dream come true for me,” Bundles told Houzz last year.
Photo by David Lee, Netflix
In the meantime, Self Made will share Walker’s unlikely and inspiring story with a new generation. As Netflix says on the series’ webpage: “Against all odds, Walker overcame post-slavery racial and gender biases, personal betrayals and business rivalries to build a groundbreaking brand that revolutionized black hair care, as she simultaneously fought for social change.”
More on Houzz
Inside the Home of a Civil Rights Trailblazer
A Home for a Hero
In the meantime, Self Made will share Walker’s unlikely and inspiring story with a new generation. As Netflix says on the series’ webpage: “Against all odds, Walker overcame post-slavery racial and gender biases, personal betrayals and business rivalries to build a groundbreaking brand that revolutionized black hair care, as she simultaneously fought for social change.”
More on Houzz
Inside the Home of a Civil Rights Trailblazer
A Home for a Hero
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The four-part series comes a little more than a year after another self-made African American beauty mogul, Richelieu Dennis, announced he was purchasing Villa Lewaro and plans to turn it into a think tank for female entrepreneurs of color. It also comes about two years after Walker’s great-great-granddaughter, journalist A’Lelia Bundles, wrote an in-depth feature for Houzz about her great-great-grandmother’s home and legacy.