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By: Cheryl Smith
December 20, 2006
With a star-studded cast, featuring veteran Danny Glover, the multi-talented Eddie Murphy, Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, and the quintessential Beyonce, movie-goers should expect big things from the musical movie DreamGirls, when it hits theaters on Christmas Day.
The biggest Christmas present, however, will come when American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson makes her debut on the big screen. She brings the house to its feet with her rendition of "And I Am Telling You."
Already the subject of "Oscar-buzz," a pleasingly humble Ms. Hudson addressed journalists recently during a visit to Dallas to promote the blockbuster movie. All the buzz is not going to her head. Instead, she said, she's taking the moment and enjoying it. "All I wanted was the role," she said, adding that she had never seen the stage production and the only time she saw the song performed was when actor Will Smith "lipsynched on the Fresh Prince."
Upon learning she would sing the song, the Chicago native said she was "terrified." "Those were some huge shoes to fill," she said, speaking of Jennifer Holliday, who made the song a hit. "I was concerned with not letting them down for giving me an opportunity and I was saying to myself, 'I hope they don't say: why is she here.'"
During a recent screening of the movie, audiences reacted to the singing performances from Hudson, Murphy and Beyonce, applauding and cheering at times.
For Ms. Hudson, just working with the other heavyweights was like "a dream." "They made me feel right at home," she said. "Jamie was so supportive. If there was a scene I was having a problem with he would act it out and he would give me advice." She said she also found the others to be very helpful as she prepared for the role, which included her gaining weight.
"I gained 20 pounds and now I have lost weight but I still have a few more (pounds) to lose," Ms. Hudson said, adding that she could relate to Effie because while participating in American Idol, her weight was an issue.
Since Idol, however, it was a humble Simon Cowell who, after seeing her in DreamGirls, had nothing but praise for Ms. Hudson during a recent appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
And a supportive cast helped calm any fears she had during filming of the musical. "Beyonce was so patient, so helpful," she explained. "I am not a dancer and she's the best.
The two spent quite a bit of time together and she says Beyonce gave her sound advice. "She said, 'take your time and make the right decisions. Explore your options.'" After American Idol Ms. Hudson signed with music industry heavyweight Clive Davis and she says that she will start recording in January.
This "acting thing" is all new to Ms. Hudson, who has nothing but kind words for her co-stars and director, Bill Condon.
Since it first debuted on stages, it has been speculated that DreamGirls is based on the lives of three young ladies from Detroit, who called themselves the Supremes. Ms. Hudson's character is said to be the late Florence Ballard, who left the Supremes, while Diana Ross led the group into music history books.
Beyonce stars in the role many say is actually Ms. Ross.
Despite the rumors and the denials, what you have on the screen is a gripping story that could have easily been the Dixie Chicks, EnVogue, or even Destiny's Child. Set in the early 1960s to mid-70s DreamGirls is the story of three young, talented ladies who form a singing group. Managed by Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Jamie Foxx), who bears resemblances to Motown-head Berry Gordy, the group goes through some changes, much like most groups. When Effie leaves the group, she takes with her a secret- a child that Taylor has no idea exists. Abandoning a career as a singer, and also dealing with deceitful moves by Taylor, eventually Effie returns to the stage.
Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose (Lorrell) rounds out the group and when Effie takes her walk, Sharon Leal, known for TV's Boston Public, steps in to keep the Dreamettes singing.
While this is the beginning of an acting career for Ms. Hudson, she says she is looking at other projects because she has a "newfound" love for acting.
"I like to do things with substance," she said. "It's important to be me to be a good role model. That I might be a role model comes with the territory and I want to give all females something positive."
Spiritually grounded and close to her family, Ms. Hudson laughingly said if she wasn't an entertainer, she would probably be a tattoo artist. But for right now, she's just living in the moment and some moviegoers may even get a bigger surprise on Christmas Day. "I want to sneak into a theater and watch (DreamGirls), without anyone knowing I am there," she said.
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