Among those vying for the role were Beyonce Knowles, Whitney Houston, Jasmine Guy and Lauryn Hill… Beyonce wanted the role so badly that when she auditioned, she arrived in costume with choreographed dance steps. Houston’s star turn in 1992’s The Bodyguard made her a spot-on choice for Deena.

Beyonc expected an offer, but wouldn’t audition and so she didn’t get one, Rudin told Page Six. The New York-based casting director noted that several of the singer’s fellow R&B divas felt otherwise, but ultimately the part went to a lesser-known talent who was one of Beyonc’s costars in 2006’s Dreamgirls.

When Hudson auditioned for the role of Effie, she was fresh off a seventh-place finish on American Idol. It was her performances on the reality singing competition that first attracted the attention of casting directors.

In Dreamgirls, Eddie Murphy plays James Thunder Early, a character who’s part James Brown, part Little Richard, and all Eddie Murphy. … Like the rest of the cast, Eddie does all his own singing in the film, but even he admits that the pop albums he put out in the ’80s weren’t a good example of what he could do.

A total of 783 singing actresses auditioned for the role of Effie White, among them American Idol alumnae Fantasia Barrino and Jennifer Hudson, former Disney star Raven-Symon, and Broadway stars Capathia Jenkins and Patina Miller.

Jennifer Hudson is an American actress and singer. In 2004 she earned a spot on American Idol, gaining exposure and a loyal fan base. In 2006 she played a Motown-era singer in the film Dreamgirls, for which she won a Golden Globe and an Oscar. She also won a Grammy in 2008 for her debut album.

Written by composer Henry Krieger and playwright Tom Eyen, Dreamgirls is said to be a fictional story based on girl groups of the 1960s such as The Supremes, The Shirelles and The Marvelettes – but speculation that it was based on The Supremes and their relationship with Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records has been …

Hudson, 35, portrayed the role Holliday made famous, Effie White, in the 2006 film adaptation of Dreamgirls, which earned her an Oscar.

According to the actor (via MTV News), he didn’t enjoy filming that scene with Bey because he had it in the back of his mind that she was Jay-Z’s girl. He said all he heard in his head during the on-screen lip-lock was, Jiggg-aaah!

Hudson starred alongside Beyonc in the musical drama and swept award season. Though many believe Hudson outshined her co-star, the two maintain a friendly relationship. Hudson once gave a behind-the-scenes look into who Beyonc is off-screen.

Dreamgirls was supposed to be Beyonc’s big break in Hollywood, but it was her co-star, Jennifer Hudson, who had the breakout role and went on to win the Academy Award and become the hot new it-girl in Hollywood.

Simon Cowell says he doesn’t expect Jennifer Hudson to apologize for calling him abusive during her run on American Idol, no matter how wrong she might be.

Eddie Murphy finds moderate success with his music Murphy may be the funny guy but he takes his singing chops seriously. One of his first major professional singing gigs is providing background vocals to songs by The Bus Boys. In 1982, Murphy decided to take his singing career to the next level and release an album.

A classically trained pianist, Foxx says it was important to the portrayal that he was not just acting when he sat down to the piano. … But Foxx does not sing them; he skillfully lip-syncs to the actual vintage Ray Charles studio sessions and concert recordings.

Actress Sharon Leal who played Michelle Morris in Dreamgirls is adding singer and songwriter to her list of talents by releasing the first music video from her upcoming solo EP, LEAL, for her song Giant.

In 2010 and 2011, Jennifer made headlines for dropping 80 pounds as a Weight Watchers spokeswoman. Beyonce Knowles took on the part of Deena Jones in Dreamgirls. She replaced Effie White as the lead singer of the Dreamettes after Curtis Taylor Jr. decided to make her the star.

What is Jennifer Hudson up to now? Jennifer announced that she would be swapping her role as a judge on the show to focus on her commitments around the Cats movie and her role as the iconic singer in the Aretha Franklin biopic.

2. Effie Melody White (Jennifer Hudson) is kicked out of the Dreams for seemingly erratic behavior. Her label’s founder and president, Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), simultaneously leaves Effie for fellow Dream Deena Jones (Beyonce Knowles).

With a net worth of over $140 million, Carrie Underwood is the richest American Idol winner by millions (via Celebrity Net Worth).

Diana Ross was the lead singer of the music group, The Supremes in the 1960s. … However, the times the Supremes shared inspired the 1980s musical and 2006 movie, Dreamgirls. Beyonc starred in the film as Deena Jones, a character loosely based on Ross.

Despite their lengthy relationship, Ross never married Gordy. Nonetheless, their lives shifted when she became pregnant with her first child, Rhonda Ross. Although Gordy was Rhonda’s biological father, he and Ross didn’t tell their daughter the truth until she was 13.

We weren’t being catty to each other. None of the craziness that usually breaks up bands was there. The other two members of the group, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, agree. This is nothing to tear up about, Rowland says.

Curtis Taylor, Jr. is the main antagonist of the musical Dreamgirls. He is loosely based on record producer Berry Gordy, creator of Motown records. In the film, he was portrayed by Jamie Foxx. In the original Broadway production, he was portrayed by Ben Harney.

Holliday’s performance was in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Broadway show, in which she originated the role of Effie White in 1981. The actress earned a Tony Award for her Dreamgirls performance. In 1982, and the same year she won her trophy, Holliday performed the same song to a similarly boisterous response.

She also won a 1982 Tony Award for Dreamgirls. …

Question by author paleprincess. 30 Who was Effie in love with? Answer: Curtis Taylor Jr. Effie (played by Jennifer Hudson) and Curtis shared an attraction from very early on in their professional relationship.