USA: Beyonce Knowles and mother Tina weigh in on Jennifer Hudson jealousy rumors at "Dreamgirls" Los Angeles premiere.

Record ID: 218812

  • Title: USA: Beyonce Knowles and mother Tina weigh in on Jennifer Hudson jealousy rumors at "Dreamgirls" Los Angeles premiere.
  • Date: 14th December 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS VIVICA FOX, WEARING A ROBERTO CAVALLI DRESS, SAYING: "I have heard how wonderful she (Jennifer Hudson) is that she totally embodied Effie and sang that song. I heard in New York she got a standing ovation. Which in a movie is pretty incredible thing to do so I am looking forward to tonight I really am."
  • Embargoed: 29th December 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAQWEN0UMWZO10L7JGCZBXW7WC
  • Story Text: The cast of the movie adaptation of the famed Broadway musical "Dreamgirls", staring Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx, chart-topping singer Beyonce Knowles and long-time favourite Eddie Murphy, premiered the film in Los Angeles, California on Monday (December 11, 2006) . But in true show business tradition, an overweight unknown more used to failure than success is stealing the show.
    The movie tells the story of a group of black female singers and is loosely based on the story of Diana Ross and The Supremes and the Motown record company.
    "Well you know I originally saw the play on Broadway in the '80's and even the I sat there and cried because I thought it was all about us but they said it wasn't. I think it is a wonderful portrayal of girls group and what goes on the music business and friendship and all those things. I think the film actually captured what the essence of what the play was and that really is not easy," Singer Mary Wilson, one of the original members of The Supremes, said.
    Writer-director Bill Condon ("Gods and Monsters," "Kinsey"), who was nominated for a screenwriting Oscar for best-picture winner "Chicago," crafted the film in following the rise of a Supremes-style Detroit trio - played by Knowles, Broadway veteran Anika Noni Rose, and buzz- worthy break- out star Jennifer Hudson.
    "As far as the looks and the hairstyles and some of the postures it was definitely inspired by Diana Ross and I studied some of her performances and some of her expressions. She was fascinating to watch I have nothing but respect for her I love her so much, " Beyonce Knowles wearing an Elllie Saab gown told Reuters.
    If Hudson is surprised by the talk of an Oscar, it's because her resume was rather thin: She is a college drop-out with six months' experience singing on a cruise ship who later reached a mere seventh place on the TV audition show American Idol. While Knowles' voice is as strong as Hudson's in the film, rumours have surfaced that Knowles' dreams of an Oscar nomination are being crushed by all the attention being paid to Hudson's performance in the film.
    "It's so ridiculous. It's sad you know what I kept saying was why don't you hear about any beef between Eddie and Jamie? Its always women that people feel can't get together and work together and be happy for each other. It's ridiculous, its really sad," Tina Knowles, Beyonce's mother and stylist, told Reuters.
    Knowles is no stranger to girl group drama, just like her character Deena, she became the most visible member of the trio Destiny's Child.
    "It's part of my life. Whenever you are a celebrity and whenever you are a female then people tend to start crazy things and its unfortunate because usually it's with women but I try not to put my energy towards that. We all had the time of out lives on the set and we are all proud of each other," Beyonce Knowles said on the red carpet arrival line.
    Hudson credits her voice to her Baptist upbringing in Chicago, where she belted out songs in church from age seven.
    "I got a chance to learn. I took it as a lesson I said let me learn from Jamie, let me learn from Beyonce, let me learn from Eddie , and Danny Glover. It was like a class for me I got to learn from the greats those were my teachers. Bill Condon the director who is unbelievable, I was so blessed, I lucked out to get him for my start," Hudson said. After her first audition, an acting agent told her he liked her but said while she could make it on Broadway, she would have to lose some weight and work on her image if she were to make it in Hollywood.
    Hudson's silver screen debut has already won her fans even before the movie opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday (December 15) and nation-wide on December 25. At media screenings, the press have greeted Hudson's performance with whooping applause.
    "I have heard how wonderful she is that she totally embodied Effie and sang that song. I heard in New York she got a standing ovation. Which in a movie is pretty incredible thing to do so I am looking forward to tonight I really am," said actress Vivica Fox, wearing a Roberto Cavalli dress.
    Her biggest ovation comes during her rendition of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" -- the emotional show stopper in the original 1981 Broadway show, which won six Tony Awards.
    "Oh you get chills when you hear her sing it's powerful stuff," said Eddie Murphy, who portrays James 'Thunder' Early in the film. Murphy is creating a buzz of his own as he digs deep, and sings, for the first time in a long time portraying a character similar to Little Richard.
    "Oh man just watching Eddie its amazing because you I grew up watching Eddie Murphy so sometimes I just look at the back of his head like 'do you know who you are man?' Sometimes I was too loud. I come on set and say "E. Murph!' and knock his shades off. I had a great time and they had to keep me quiet because there was just a lot of great stuff happening," Foxx said.
    As Hudson promotes "Dreamgirls" and is preparing to record an album for legendary recording executive Clive Davis, who made stars of the likes of Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys, she's finding all the attention a little hard to believe.
    "Girl I am going to be praying on my knees Thursday morning. Lord give me the strength to get through this," Hudson says of the Golden Globe nominations this Thursday (December 14)..

    ends
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