Beyonce Wanted Bigger 'Dreamgirls' Role

[Brian Damage]

Pop star Beyonce Knowles was desperate to land the lead role of Effie in Dreamgirls, but was forced to take a smaller part because the director wasn't convinced she could act.
Despite appearances in comedies Goldmember and The Pink Panther, Knowles couldn't convince director Bill Condon she would be able to tackle the dramatic role--which eventually went to Jennifer Hudson.

Knowles insists she was happy to take the smaller part to prove her talent as an actress, saying, "I'm already a star. I already have nine Grammys. Everyone knows I can sing.

"I did this because I wanted people to know that I can act and I can play someone so different from myself."

The “Irreplaceable” singer admits she would have loved to have sung Effie's show-stopping number “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going,” and would have gladly gained weight for the role.

Instead she lost weight to play Deena in the movie.

She explains, "I wish I could have gained 20 pounds and played Effie. I absolutely would have, but Bill didn't even believe that I could be Deena. So imagine if I would've said, 'Bill, I want to be Effie.'

But Knowles has high praise for her costar's performance, adding, "Jennifer Hudson had such pressure. First of all, never being in a film and never having done an album and still having to live up to those expectations, she did incredible."

[everett552]

Pop star Beyonce Knowles was desperate to land the lead role of Effie in Dreamgirls, but was forced to take a smaller part because the director wasn't convinced she could act.
Despite appearances in comedies Goldmember and The Pink Panther, Knowles couldn't convince director Bill Condon she would be able to tackle the dramatic role--which eventually went to Jennifer Hudson.

Knowles insists she was happy to take the smaller part to prove her talent as an actress, saying, "I'm already a star. I already have nine Grammys. Everyone knows I can sing.

"I did this because I wanted people to know that I can act and I can play someone so different from myself."

The “Irreplaceable” singer admits she would have loved to have sung Effie's show-stopping number “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going,” and would have gladly gained weight for the role.

Instead she lost weight to play Deena in the movie.

She explains, "I wish I could have gained 20 pounds and played Effie. I absolutely would have, but Bill didn't even believe that I could be Deena. So imagine if I would've said, 'Bill, I want to be Effie.'

But Knowles has high praise for her costar's performance, adding, "Jennifer Hudson had such pressure. First of all, never being in a film and never having done an album and still having to live up to those expectations, she did incredible."





You can't have everything you want, celebrities are not exempt either.

[Dr. Jazz]

Beyonce would not have been right for the role of Effie, even if she had gained weight. While I'm sure Jennifer Hudson does a good job in "Dreamgirls", there is and will always be only one Effie White and that's Jennifer Holliday :cool:

[vashti1999]

While I'm sure Jennifer Hudson does a good job in "Dreamgirls", there is and will always be only one Effie White and that's Jennifer Holliday

After her performance in Bill Condon's adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical "Dreamgirls," former "American Idol" finalist Jennifer Hudson deserves a recount. In fact, they should cancel the TV show.

No one who's been on "American Idol" - or is likely to be - has the pipes of this young lady.

Hudson, taking over the role of Effie played on stage by Jennifer Holliday, is in charge of "Dreamgirls" from her opening scene, blowing away Grammy-winner Beyoncé Knowles, Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx and anyone else who gets in her way.

When she sings "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" - one of the most heartfelt cries of pain ever written for a musical - Hudson inscribes her name on an Oscar.

Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

[Brian Damage]

After her performance in Bill Condon's adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical "Dreamgirls," former "American Idol" finalist Jennifer Hudson deserves a recount. In fact, they should cancel the TV show.

No one who's been on "American Idol" - or is likely to be - has the pipes of this young lady.

Hudson, taking over the role of Effie played on stage by Jennifer Holliday, is in charge of "Dreamgirls" from her opening scene, blowing away Grammy-winner Beyoncé Knowles, Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx and anyone else who gets in her way.

When she sings "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" - one of the most heartfelt cries of pain ever written for a musical - Hudson inscribes her name on an Oscar.

Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

There certainly is a lot of Oscar buzz for Hudson.

[Dr. Jazz]

After her performance in Bill Condon's adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical "Dreamgirls," former "American Idol" finalist Jennifer Hudson deserves a recount. In fact, they should cancel the TV show.

No one who's been on "American Idol" - or is likely to be - has the pipes of this young lady.

Hudson, taking over the role of Effie played on stage by Jennifer Holliday, is in charge of "Dreamgirls" from her opening scene, blowing away Grammy-winner Beyoncé Knowles, Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx and anyone else who gets in her way.

When she sings "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" - one of the most heartfelt cries of pain ever written for a musical - Hudson inscribes her name on an Oscar.

Jack Mathews, New York Daily News


Denzel Washington said he ran into Eddie Murphy while "Dreamgirls" was still being filmed and Eddie told him that Jennifer Hudson was stealing the whole movie. I'm still gonna have to hear Jennifer sing "And I'm Telling You. . ." before I put her up there with Jennifer Holliday. I saw the original "Dreamgirls" on Broadway 25 years ago and Jennifer Holliday brought the house down.

[Karen*]

Wow, it'll be awesome if Jennifer Hudson gets nominated for an Oscar! :woohoo:

[vashti1999]

SAN FRANCISCO - Fate has been kind to Jennifer Hudson. After being ousted from season three of TV’s “American Idol” (Fantasia Barrino won it all that year), Hudson has bounced back in a very big way.


The 25-year-old singer-actress from Chicago makes her debut as Effie White in the big-screen adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical “Dreamgirls.” It’s the same role that made a star of singer Jennifer Holliday, who thrilled audiences in the 1981 Broadway production.

The film, loosely based on the story of The Supremes, tells the tale of young, gorgeous women from Detroit who rise to the top of the music business in a group called the Dreamettes.

Hudson beat 782 other hopefuls for the part. Although the film is loaded with big-name stars such as Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Danny Glover and Anika Noni Rose, it’s Hudson’s name that seems to be creating the most buzz, including Oscar talk.

“It all hasn’t quite sunk in just yet,” a glamorous-looking Hudson said during a recent interview at San Francisco’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Seated comfortably and wearing a beautiful, black sequined skirt and blouse, she said, “I’m listening to you and going ‘wow’ because I’ve been hearing the Oscar talk, too. It’s a trip because all I wanted was the part in this movie. This never occurred to me or crossed my mind at all. So to hear all of this, I’m like, ‘Wow, are they serious?’”

Of course, Hudson’s thunderous voice has made people notice. She’s the real deal, having put her personal stamp on Holliday’s signature song, “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.” Yet the singer also has a major screen presence. On screen, she looks as if she’s been acting for years.

She knows she could gloat, especially having proved Simon Cowell and “American Idol” wrong. (She said Cowell told her she “was out of her league” and that there were other singers on the show who were better than her.) But Hudson prefers taking the high road. Besides, she’s a little preoccupied right now, having recently signed with Clive Davis’ Arista label. In January, she heads to the studio to record her first CD.

“I never really felt as if my dream of making it as a singer crashed and died after being voted off of ‘American Idol,’” she said. “I would have felt that way had I not got the ‘Dreamgirls’ part. I just knew there was something else out there for me. I wasn’t

sure what. I was like, ‘Whatever it is, I’m going to have to sing my way to it.’ And I couldn’t give up even if I wanted to. Of course, you know I felt set back and hurt after my run on ‘Idol,’ but I got over it pretty quickly.”

Hudson sees a direct parallel in her life and that of the character she plays in “Dreamgirls.”

“Effie was told she was no good and couldn’t make it either,” she said. “She was cast aside. But in the end we both prevail. I like that.”

Hudson credits her parents with giving her an inner strength and ability to deal with adversity.

“They are really my inspiration,” she said. “Especially my grandmother. I got my voice from her. She was religious and chose not to sing professionally. She said she just wanted to sing for the Lord. And my theory is that had she gone professional, I would not exist. ‘Dreamgirls’ is a tribute to her. That’s where much of the emotion comes from when I sing ‘And I’m Telling You.’ I just think ‘Grandma, are you happy? Look what I’ve done. It’s no longer a dream.’”

[James"Thunder"Early]

Beyonce would have been wrong for Effie, she doesn't have the range. I've listened to some of the soundtrack and Jennifer Hudson nails all the songs she sings, it's amazing.

[LucyCompanyPhan]

I read a review about Dreamgirls and this particular quote gave me chills:

"When she sings "And I am telling You I'm not Going" - one of the most heartfelt cries of pain ever written for a musical - Hudson inscribes her name on an Oscar"

[TJL]

Since Beyonce has always been treated like a "star" (ask her fellow Destiny's Child members) everywhere she goes, I think she'll get some points for allowing someone else to grab the spotlight for a shange.

[Ireneparalegal]

I saw last week on ENTERTAINIMENT TONIGHT and Jennifer Holliday was not at all happy with Ms. Hudson and something abt Ms. Holiday's voice being used in the trailers to promote Dreamgirls WITHOUT HER CONSENT. She is livid abt it and is very very upset because she feels that Ms. Hudson is getting credit for her singing when it is in fact, Ms. Holliday's voice that is being heard.