You know those silly countdown shows that seem to be everywhere these days? It seems Jennifer Hudson missed the number one spot on “Top 100 Dumb Career Moves” by a hair. In a Newsweek interview, Jennifer admits to almost refusing a phone call from Oprah:
“Tell her I’m not talking,” Hudson told her makeup artist, who had answered the phone. “I was resting my voice, and I thought it was my manager playing around! It took about 30 seconds before I realized, ‘Oh, my God, this is Oprah for real!’ ”
After seeing Hudson’s stellar breakout performance in ‘Dreamgirls’, Winfrey was calling to gush. “She said my performance was like a religious experience,” Hudson says, and looks down at her lap. “She said words were not enough to define it. She said, ‘I’m so proud of you’.”
Jennifer portrays Effie White - the “big-boned”, big-voiced lead of the Dreamettes who gets forced to the background because of her image. In a life-imitates-art way, Jennifer has experienced this herself. She was booted off “American Idol,” prompting criticism from fans, including Elton John, that “Idol” voters were racist. Hudson has a more realistic explanation: “It just meant that wasn’t the place for me,” she says. “I figured if they couldn’t accept me for the talent that I am, then I didn’t need to be there. The ‘Idol’ judges told me, ‘Everything about you is too much’,” she says. ” ‘Your voice is too much. Your look is too much. Your hair is too much.’ I didn’t understand. Isn’t that what a star is: bigger than average?”
By Christmas Day, we’ll have our answer. “Dreamgirls” opens amid almost universal afteement that Jennifer Hudson is about to explode. She has already landed a recording contract - the fact that she didn’t have one prior to the movie still has people boggled - and most likely an Oscar win in 2007. Despite all the hype around her, and the lessons to be learned from Effie, she’ll still be dealing with image issues in the real world.
“Why should I feel like the minority when the majority of America is a size 12?” she says. “Plus, a lot of singers don’t sound the same when they lose weight.” She grabs a handful of flesh below her belly. “I have a little singer’s pouch, and that’s where the voice comes from, so you’re all just going to have to get used to my jelly.” She laughs. “Hey, somebody has to represent the big girls. Why not me?”
Damn straight…why not you?