Jennifer Hudson’s wildest dreams came true on Monday night when she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her stellar performance in the movie Dreamgirls. The American Idol finalist-turned actress’s win marked the first major award the newcomer received for her role as Effie White and kicked off a night of big wins for Dreamgirls, a film adaptation of the `80s hit Broadway play by the same name.
Stunning in a navy floor-length Vera Wang gown with a plunging neckline, Hudson humbly accepted the honor before a celebrity-filled room. “I always dreamed, but never, ever this big. This goes far beyond anything I could have ever imagined,” Hudson tearfully said. As she concluded, she added: “One more thing, I want to dedicate this award to a lady who never got a fair chance, Florence Ballard [of the legendary Motown trio, The Supremes]. You will never be forgotten.”
Dreamgirls went on to capture awards in three of the five categories it was nominated in. In addition to Hudson’s category, Eddie Murphy won for Best Supporting Actor – Musical or Comedy and for Best Film Musical or Comedy. Lead Dreamgirls actor, Jamie Foxx, praised the critically-acclaimed film when he took to the stage to present the trailer for the film’s nomination in its category. While on stage, the Academy Award-winning actor also took the opportunity to take a jab at the movie industry.
“Dreamgirls portrays a pivotal point in American musical history. The moment when a group of big dreamers created a sound and wrote it into the mainstream culture — and it’s the story the way a story should be told, through music,” Foxx said. “With a brilliant creative ensemble and dream cast, a legendary stage production that has been transformed into a film that has audiences cheeringall across this country – and only in 800 theaters. You do the math. You do the math!” Foxx quipped, prompting applause from the audience.
In the Best Actor category, actor-comedian Eddie Murphy beat out some stiff competition when he bested acting heavyweights Jack Nicholson, Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck and Mark Wahlberg to win his role as a super smooth, fast-talking singer who struggles to find his place in a post-Motown era music scene.
“Wow, I’ll be damned,” said Murphy, who has previously lost three Golden Globe nominations in past years. “Thank you so much. This is a nice moment.”
Not everyone had a golden night however. The twice-nominated Beyonce Knowles left empty handed after she lost to Prince’s “The Song of the Heart” from Happy Feet in the “Best Original Song” category and to six time Golden Globe Award-winner Meryl Streep for “Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy” for her role in The Devil Wears Prada.
Not to be forgotten, one of the night’s biggest honors, the coveted Best Actor award, went to Forest Whitaker for his portrayal of Africiacn leader Idi Amin in the biopic, The Last King of Scotland.
The second-biggest awards show for television and film, the Golden Globes are considered a pre-cursor to the Academy Awards. Oscar buzz typically surrounds the Golden Globe winners since historically many of them go on to win Oscars. The 2006 Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Jan. 23 and the Oscar ceremony will take place on Feb. 25.
Photo Credit: Wire Image
Jennifer Hudson won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Dreamgirls.
Photo Credit: Wire Image
Eddie Murphy won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Dreamgirls.
Photo Credit: Wire Image
Forest Whitaker won a Golden Globe for Best Actor – Drama for his role in The Last King of Scotland.