Surprised Hudson Headed for Dream Date with Oscar

Unlike the rest of America, "Dreamgirls" Jennifer Hudson still can't believe she's a winner

By Gayl Murphy

HOLLYWOOD-CA (rushprnews) 01/04/2007-- Newcomer Jennifer Hudson may have been booted off "American Idol" in final rounds, but she has become America's favorite underdog and Hollywood Today predicts she will not only be nominated for, but win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her show-stopping performance as the tortured Effie White in "Dreamgirls."

So all eyes are upon her and people are cheering. But the thing is, these cheers are for Hudson in a MOVIE theater, and they're also doing it AGAIN as her name appears in the credits and they're hanging around the theatre at the end, as if she were going to exit the stage door anytime soon.

So unless you're visiting from foreign galaxy, you can't appreciate how unusual this is. But don't tell that to Hudson, 'cuz it's ALL news to her. "I didn't realize how much weight was on my shoulders until after I saw it, she told Hollywood Today (www.hollywoodtoday.net). "And, thank God I didn't know because then I think I would have been a nervous wreck."

Q: Can you talk a little about your preparation for this role? Did you speak to any of the Broadway folks behind the production?

Hudson: No, I didn't have a chance to speak with any of them, but I researched the Supremes and read books about them and footage and watched the DVDs of their old performances. I had a billboard of the Supremes bill put in my room and I would sit and study Florence Ballard, who Effie is patterned after. The storyline of the industry in the movie is very parallel to what goes on in reality to the music industry. I think it's a bit of a lot of different artists' stories including mine. I never really knew about the show up until maybe a year or two before Dreamgirls. I only knew of the song "And I'm Telling You" and I did sing it, but I thought it was original material by Jennifer Holliday. Up until (the film) "Dreamgirls" I thought the character was (named) Jennifer Holliday. I used to say I want to play Jennifer Holliday on Broadway. I didn't even know it was Effie White.

Q: Did you work off set to create a good vibe with Beyoncé?

Hudson: Well, for the most part we were always together. When we were filming it felt like 24 hours a day. It was just a natural bond. Beyoncé felt like a friend or a sister or something. We all really connected really well. (What I learned from Beyoncé) was just her ability not to give up and to stay so focused which was amazing to me. I would tell everybody that while everybody else was at home sleeping at night this girl is up working. She gave us a great push to see because it was like if Beyoncé can do it then I can do it. It's funny because we were actually on set one night and it was a long night and our feet were hurting. My thinking was that if she can do it, I can do it and I went to tell her (that) and then realized that, 'you are Beyoncé and I can't tell you that!' She's always been an inspiration for me.

Q: Did you realize you were the emotional key to the whole movie?

Hudson: Well, I didn't realize how much weight was on my shoulders until after I saw it. Thank God I didn't know because then I think I would have been a nervous wreck. But I was so excited and so happy to be a part of the project that it never occurred to me that 'Oh God, you have a lot to do here and this is your first film and in it with all of these all stars.' It really never occurred to me.

Read the rest of this Jennifer Hudson article including her new recording plans and an interview with Beyoncé in entertainment newsmagazine Hollywood Today at www.hollywoodtoday.net

Permission to re-print or rebroadcast granted provided Hollywood Today is credited and web address url is listed whenever possible.

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