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Dreamgirl Effie
Background:
One of the finalists on the third season of Fox’s hit reality/talent-search show
“American Idol,” Jennifer Hudson has been creating award buzz from top film
critics for her performance as Effie White, alongside Beyonce Knowles and Jamie
Foxx in the big screen adaptation of the Broadway musical, Dreamgirls (2006).
She has now been named Best Supporting Actress Award by the Washington, DC Film
Critics Association (as well as the winner of its Breakthrough Performance
Award) and the New York Film Critics Circle, was the runner-up in the Best
Supporting Actress category at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and was
named Best Breakthrough Performance by a Female by the National Board of the
Review. She was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Broadcast
Critics Circle and Golden Globes. Additionally, the 5' 9" tall first-time
actress has been extolled as the frontrunner for this year's Academy Award for
Best Supporting Actress.
Chicago Roots
Childhood and Family:
In Chicago, Illinois, Jennifer Hudson was born on September 12, 1981. Since the
age of seven, she has started singing in the church choir. Her late maternal
grandmother, Julia Kate Hudson, was also an avid churchgoer and sang in the
choir.
From Idol to Dreamgirls
Career:
"The church is my favorite place to sing. My first solo was ‘Must Jesus Bare The
Cross Alone.’” Jennifer Hudson.
Having started singing in the church choir at the age of seven, Jennifer Hudson
also performed at various clubs, weddings and benefits in Chicago and nearby
areas. She landed her first professional role in a local production of the
musical “Big River,” and in the Fall of 2002, Hudson became a featured vocalist
on the Disney Wonder cruise ship. There, she landed her first significant role
as Calliope, the head muse on the Disney line that ran from February 2003
through August of 2003. Recalling her stint at Disney, Hudson stated: "Singing
for thousands of people, and to be paid to do this, it’s amazing!"
In August 2003, instead of renewing her contract with Disney, Hudson flew to
Atlanta to join an audition for third season of Fox wildly popular talent search
show, “American Idol.” During the show, she wowed million audiences with her
standout performances on John Lennon's "Imagine," The Four Tops' and Whitney
Houston's "I Believe in You and Me," Aretha Franklin's "Baby I Love You," Motown
girl group Martha and the Vandellas' "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave," Whitney
Houston's "I Have Nothing" and Barry Manilow's "Weekend in New England." On
April 7, 2004, she astonishingly sang Elton John's "Circle of Life," to which
Idol judge Simon Cowell commented that she "finally proved why she was among the
Top 12." Despite her brilliant performances, Hudson eventually became the sixth
of the 12 finalists to be eliminated from the show when she was voted off on
April 21, 2004.
"I have learned a lot. It's been the biggest experience of my life. It's just a
blessing from God to just be able to use my talent to make my living - to be on
American Idol and be on stage." Jennifer Hudson.
After “Idol,” Hudson has performed at several important benefit concerts,
including a performance in the hit Broadway musical "Hair." She was also invited
to perform at an event in her hometown alongside such notable artists as
Destiny’s Child, Kanye West and others.
In November 2005, Oscar-winning filmmaker Bill Condon cast Hudson to play Effie
White, the lead singer and founder of an all-girl R&B singing group called The
Dreamettes, in Dreamgirls. In the film adaptation of Broadway's hit musical,
Hudson shared the screen with such movie stars as Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles,
Eddie Murphy and Danny Glover. Hudson, who reportedly had to gain a total of 20
pounds in order to play the role of Effie, has garnered critical acclaims for
her performance. She has been named Best Supporting Actress Award by the
Washington, DC Film Critics Association (as well as the winner of its
Breakthrough Performance Award) and the New York Film Critics Circle, was the
runner-up in the Best Supporting Actress category at the Los Angeles Film
Critics Association, and was named Best Breakthrough Performance by a Female by
the National Board of the Review. She was also nominated for Best Supporting
Actress at the Broadcast Critics Circle and Golden Globes. Additionally, she has
been extolled as the frontrunner for this year's Academy Award for Best
Supporting Actress.
"Effie is such a hugely complex role. She is at once exasperating and
heartbreaking. Jennifer emerged as the person who captured both sides."
Dreamgirls director Bill Condon.
Back to singing, Hudson sings duet with Meat Loaf on a song called "The Future
Ain't What it Used to Be" on the rock singer’s latest album, Bat Out of Hell
III: The Monster Is Loose, which was released in the US on Halloween 2006. She
also plans to release an album in late Spring 2007 under Clive Davis' labels, J
Records.
Awards:
- National Board of Review: Best Breakthrough Performance - Female,
Dreamgirls, 2006
- ShoWest: Female Star of Tomorrow, 2006
- New York Film Critics Circle: Best Supporting Actress, Dreamgirls, 2006
- New York Film Critics Online: Best Supporting Actress, Dreamgirls, 2006
- New York Film Critics Online: Breakthrough Performer, Dreamgirls, 2006
- Hollywood Life Awards: Breakthrough of the Year, 2006
- Washington, DC Film Critics Association: Best Supporting Actress,
Dreamgirls, 2006
- Washington, DC Film Critics Association: Best Breakthrough Performance,
Dreamgirls, 2006
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