May 21, 2006

Beyonce: ‘I Lost 20 Lbs.’ for Dreamgirls

Beyonce: 'I Lost 20 Lbs.' for Dreamgirls

At a Cannes Film Festival preview of the upcoming movie Dreamgirls on Friday, stars Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Hudson admitted they’d dealt with some weighty issues for their roles. 

Knowles, 24, told reporters that she lost 20 lbs. to play the super-svelte Deena Jones, the lead singer of the Dreamettes – a ’60s-style group loosely modeled on Diana Ross and the Supremes.

“At the beginning (of filming), I was my normal weight,” she said. “I actually gained a little bit, but then I lost 20 lbs. when I went from young Deena to old Deena. I wanted it to be something more than just make-up and hair. I wanted to see the change.”

Asked whether Hollywood executives pressured her to drop the weight, Knowles, in a blue halter dress designed by her mother Tina, said, “Oh no, that was my idea.

“The director (Bill Condon) actually kept telling me to ‘eat, eat, eat’ for continuity, but I really wanted to go all the way. I was inspired by Tom Hanks. He did it all the way (in Castaway), so I said, I can do it all the way!”

Her costar, former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson, makes her big-screen debut as Effie White, the powerful singer criticized by the Dreamettes’ manager (Jamie Foxx) for her full figure.

Hudson told reporters she wasn’t trying to lose weight: “Why fix something that isn’t broke? Someone has to represent the average girl. Not everyone is a size 2.”

Still, she added, “I’ve been trying to work out, to make sure my curves don’t get too much curvy. I enjoy my jelly where it is.”

The movie, based on the Tony-winning 1981 Broadway musical, is due in theaters in December.

 


Posted in Actress, Movies by Veronica at 5:57 pm. You may also be interested in reading Beyonce Celebrates 25th Birthday with CD, Beyonce Wouldn’t Recommend Liquid Diet, Newlywed Beyoncé Returns to Recording Studio, which may be related to this entry.

22 Comments »

  1. i love this pic can you send it to my profile.

    Comment by ijanaya — February 22, 2007 @ 7:27 am

  2. send this pic to my profile

    Comment by ijanaya — February 22, 2007 @ 7:28 am

  3. i love u beyonce!!!! u r my idol u r so talented! ur preety to and the best! no one can top u!

    Comment by Babybeyonce — March 22, 2007 @ 7:37 pm

  4. Beyonce i love u with ALL MY HEART keep up to a good work and don’t lisent to those people the Are negative i love u BEYONCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Comment by lizeth valente — March 29, 2007 @ 6:06 pm

  5. i love you and your songs so much i want your c-d’s so bad!!!!!!if you can write back to me!!!!! bye

    Comment by bryanna — April 2, 2007 @ 4:14 pm

  6. u hav no idea how much i love u! u r so beautifull an so talented,yet SOOOO humble! i know dat its wierd 4 a guy to love u so much,bt i do!

    Comment by toure — April 7, 2007 @ 8:18 am

  7. seni çoookkkk seviorum be beyonce kıs ne güsel cıkmışın yukarıdaki fotoda ayy yerim seni (I’m from turkey)

    Comment by eliff — April 13, 2007 @ 1:02 pm

  8. i like beyonce i wish she could bee my best freind

    Comment by nouf alshatti — April 15, 2007 @ 10:55 am

  9. If u were with me, I’d ask u to sing me to sleep every night.

    Comment by Gtec — April 22, 2007 @ 11:09 pm

  10. hello beyonce I would know you if i can please send a e-mail

    thank you

    Comment by yenifer — April 28, 2007 @ 6:57 pm

  11. well really beyonce you are alright but you are a bit ****hy as well you like to get everything and you also like to be the leader all the time i think you are pretty but a showoff as well and i also think that you are trying it (if you get what i mean)

    well keep up on the good work and achievement but with less attitude

    Comment by faiz — April 30, 2007 @ 8:29 am

  12. you are very preety and my lil sis go crazy over you and i really like you

    Comment by natasha — May 1, 2007 @ 7:57 am

  13. Beyonce your are my idol and i like you so much and im coming to see you when you come for concert bye and keep up the good work.

    Comment by Loviet — May 12, 2007 @ 10:20 am

  14. hi beyonce! you are so sexy.i so whant to fuck you.you can’t imagine how much

    Comment by john — May 12, 2007 @ 3:47 pm

  15. hi beyonce!you are so beautiful.i’m just wonderring do you even get these coments about you???if you do can you send me a answer please to my e-mail???love you.bye(call me)

    Comment by john — May 12, 2007 @ 3:53 pm

  16. i love you beyonce! youve been my idol for ever!
    i admire you!
    your talented in everyway!

    Comment by babybeyonce — May 21, 2007 @ 6:35 pm

  17. You idiots, Beyonce will never see what you people are typing here, you think she’s gonna spend her time searcchin pictures on herself

    Comment by ryan — May 23, 2007 @ 5:28 am

  18. Beyonce i love you so much your amazing. Your so beautiful, so talented and just an amazing woman. You are my idol i look up to you all the time you truly are an inspiration. Cant wait to see you on tour, i love you somuch, you wouldnt belive how much i love you. Keep up your amazing work love you loads.xxxx

    Comment by jordan taylor — May 28, 2007 @ 9:11 am

  19. beyonce you re da best!!!u re beautiful, sexy, best singer, great dancer, great actress,very nice and respectful and got a perfect figure….i must say u re da best and almost perfect lol…u re ma idol…luv yaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Comment by lizzie — May 30, 2007 @ 11:44 am

  20. All yall sound like groupies, damn get off her dick, its not enough for all of yall

    Comment by kyshira — March 5, 2008 @ 8:43 am

  21. oi

    Comment by leandro vaz martins — April 12, 2008 @ 11:25 am

  22. eu te amo Beyoncé! vc é linda d++…sou sua maior fã…

    Comment by lais maria — July 11, 2008 @ 12:55 pm

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