Jennifer Hudson: 'Nothing but blessings, God's favor'

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

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At each opening of a movie awards envelope, " 'American Idol' castoff" falls farther down the list of adjectives for Jennifer Hudson.

"Dreamgirls" opens in Atlanta today, but the applause for the singer-actress's performance in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical began in March. ShoWest, the movie industry's largest annual convention, named her "female star of tomorrow" for her portrayal of talented castoff Effie White. In December, the New York Film Critics Circle tapped her as best supporting actress, and the Golden Globes made the 25-year-old newcomer a contender in the same category.

All of this and a gushing phone call from Oprah, too. No wonder Hudson seems to be racing as she picks up the phone at her Los Angeles hotel room, desperate, perhaps, for a bowl of cereal and ice --- one of her favorite snacks --- to calm things down.

Q: When did you first get a sense that things were about to get crazy for you? Was it Oprah telling you your portrayal of Effie was "a religious experience"?

A: Can you believe that? Oprah! But actually it was ["Dreamgirls" co-star] Jamie [Foxx], who was the first to say, "You know, something's about to happen with you." He said my performance was something special. . . . And I was like, "Oh my God!" I was shaking. Still shaking. Because like every Sunday after that he would call me and say, "Are you ready? Anything you need? Because look, I've been through this, and I sense it all happening for you."

Q: That's high praise coming from an Academy Award winner.

A: And I praise God for it. What's happening now are nothing but blessings, God's favor.

Q: Who was Jennifer Hudson last year around this time? What were you doing?

A: I was in a lot of rehearsals. Very focused. I was Effie at that time, not Jennifer.

Q: Had you seen "Dreamgirls" when you got the movie role?

A: No, I hadn't. Never seen it. I just saw this community theater [production] like a month or two ago.

Q: Come on.

A: I'm serious! Oh --- and I saw [Jennifer Holliday's 1982] Tony Awards performance on YouTube.

Q: Have you met Jennifer Holliday [who portrayed Effie on Broadway]?

A: No. I've met [Holliday's co-stars of stage musical "Dreamgirls"] Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine, but not Jennifer Holliday. And I would love to because, oh my God, she has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard.

Q: Is it true that when you got the part, [Season 3 "American Idol" winner] Fantasia called and said, "You got my role!"

A: [Laughs] Yes, she did! She was surprised because nobody knew I was going out for it. Everybody knew she was. But in the end, we said, hey, she was meant to be an "American Idol," and I was meant to be a "Dreamgirl."

Q: Is there any truth to this talk about ["Dreamgirls" co-star] Beyonce and her family having a problem with you because of all of the attention you're getting?

A: Nope! Not at all. It's so crazy --- Beyonce texted me last night and told me she was so proud of me, and I texted her back saying the same. She was another person who was trying to prepare me early on for the kinds of things that could happen when all of this happens.

Q: Well, it sounds like you're ready for all of this. Have your acceptance speech for the Oscars done, too?

A: Oh, my God, I just want to live in the moment. Because I prayed for this. And it is actually happening. My dreams are coming true: "Dreamgirls." The record deal. A record deal with Clive Davis! And now, these awards and ...

Q: Does that mean, no, you don't have your Oscar speech ready?

A: [Laughs] No, I don't. But if God has that for me [long pause] Oh, my God!