A dream come trueBy Peter Mitchell
January 18, 2007
A HUGE Dreamgirls billboard perched above busy Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles proclaims the names of three of the film's stars.
Jamie Foxx, a past Oscar winner, gets top billing. Next, in equally large writing, is Beyonce Knowles, the multiple Grammy Award-winning diva, and next to that is comedian Eddie Murphy.
Look closer at the billboard's fine print and director Bill Condon is credited three times while another cast member, veteran actor Danny Glover, receives a special mention.
Nowhere to be seen is Jennifer Hudson, despite the fact she steals the film. Indeed, the former Burger King employee and cruise ship singer has picked up a Golden Globe and is a favourite to claim an Academy Award.
How Hudson transformed from unknown to potential Oscar winner is as interesting as the rise and fall of the feisty character she plays in Dreamgirls, Effie Melody White. "Our career paths have been quite similar," Hudson says.
Dreamgirls is based on the 1980s Broadway musical of the same name, which was inspired by the turbulent rise of The Supremes. Effie is a powerful vocalist but, because of her looks and prima donna attitude, is discarded from the group and replaced with a more aesthetically pleasing singer.
Hudson is well aware of what it is like to be discarded. In front of more than 20 million TV viewers in 2004, she was voted off US TV's most popular program, American Idol, despite many believing her voice was superior to the five remaining contestants. Hudson's fans claimed she was dumped because of her size and, perhaps, racism. Hudson says her early exit from Idol was a blessing.
"I did cry," Hudson recalls. "You get emotional because that's what you think you're supposed to do. But I cried real fast, got over it and moved on."
And her exposure on American Idol opened the door to the world of film, with Dreamgirls' casting agents placing her name on a list of potential Effies, despite Hudson's lack of acting experience.
The audition process was not easy for Hudson, as the casting agents saw 783 potential Effies, including the singer who won American Idol the year she competed, Fantasia Barrino.
Hudson's first audition took place in May 2005 while wearing her own "Effie dress", a frumpy outfit she found in her cupboard that impressed casting agents.
"They asked me to wear it back to the second audition," Hudson says. "They said, 'You wear that dress back. Don't change a thing'."
Despite the dress and powerful vocals, at one point she was told she would not get the part.
"They wanted to make Effie skinny," Hudson says. "I heard in the media that other people were cast in the role."
Then in early November 2005, her phone rang.
"Bill Condon called," Hudson smiles, thinking back to the day that would change her life.
"I knew if it was Bill calling it would be good news, but I missed the call so I had to call him back. I couldn't even dial the number on the phone. I was breathing so heavily.
"I finally got through to Bill and I had to get him to repeat it over and over that I had won the part."
Knowles, who has sold more than 50 million records as the star of her own musical trio, Destiny's Child, has dismissed reports she was jealous of Hudson's show-stealing performance as Effie.
Knowles plays Deena Jones, a less talented but more beautiful singer who is elevated to the leader of the group when Effie is sacked.
"I'm so happy for her. The movie is written for Jennifer's part," Knowles has said.
So with Hudson outshining Knowles, Foxx and Murphy - claiming a Golden Globe and possibly an Oscar - it's clear she can now say goodbye to her former life of flipping meat patties.
"My sister worked with me at Burger King," Hudson says. "I was so bad at it. My sister got so frustrated with me she ended up saying, 'Jennifer, just go and sing baby'. There will be no more Burger King unless I own one."
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story...5007181,00.html