If you’ve seen Dreamgirls, you know the standout moment: Jennifer Hudson’s powerhouse performance of And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.
Hudson’s portrayal of Effie White, the lead singer of The Dreamettes who gets pushed aside as the group rises to fame, won her an Oscar and solidified her as a force in Hollywood.
Hudson’s screen test is a masterclass in raw talent—just her voice and a simple piano accompaniment. No costumes, no lights, just pure emotion.
Looking back, Hudson recalls feeling like the audition lasted “a good six hours,” though the footage shows just a brief snippet of her belting out the iconic number.
Fresh off her appearance on American Idol, Hudson wasn’t even familiar with the character of Effie White when casting directors first took notice of her.
“When I was on American Idol, I saw articles saying ‘Jennifer Hudson for Effie White,’” she says.
“I didn’t know who Effie was—I knew the music but not the character.”
Her performance of And I Am Telling You became a career-defining moment and remains a signature song in her concerts.
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