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Besides being one of the most decorated musicians of this generation and a multi-millionaire business tycoon, Beyonce has also indulged in acting in the past. Most fans recognize her prowess onscreen from her concert films like Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce and Homecoming, but she started her acting journey way back in 2001 with Robert Townsend's Carmen: A Hip Hopera.
However, the most memorable role in her underrated acting career remains that of Deena Jones in Dreamgirls. The movie is a fictitious retelling of the story of The Supremes and follows their journey throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The narrative becomes even more interesting as their journey is portrayed through the lens of the Detroit girl group called The Dreams.
Deena Jones starts as a shy backup singer but quickly takes center stage and becomes one of the lead characters in the film. She is also romantically involved with Curtis and the two later get married.
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Dreamgirls is a poignant tale that showcases the evolution of American R&B music in the 1960s and 1970s without caring to set up any filters. It shows the unattainable highs in tandem with the dark, brutal lows of the industry during those times.
Beyonce was almost not selected for Dreamgirls because she was too "powerful"
In a 2006 interview with Oprah Winfrey about Dreamgirls, Queen Bey revealed that she was almost not cast in the film because of her powerful stage presence.
Deena Jones was a shy teenager during the dawn of her musical career and Beyonce's awe-inspiring star power could have hindered the portrayal of Deena's personality according to the director.
"[The director] was concerned that I couldn't play young Deena because on the stage I'm so different. I'm so strong and really powerful," revealed the 42-time Grammy winner. [at 5:27]
Thereafter, she did a screen test and ended up being the first character ton be cast for Dreamgirls. However, she had to keep certain rules in mind and not embrace her stage personality until late in the film.
"I did a screen test and I was the first person cast. Still, she had to keep her voice in check. Deena had a very soft voice and she didn't have a lot of soul. So I couldn't grunt, I couldn't growl, I couldn't sing how I wanted until [the song] 'Listen,' which is that important moment," explained Beyonce. [at 5:38]
An on-screen kiss can be an uncomfortable endeavor for an amateur actress and Beyonce didn't shy away from expressing her candid opinion about kissing Jamie Foxx's Curtis in the film. However, she also revealed that Foxx was extremely professional.
The film was released on December 15, 2006, and was one of the most expensive movies featuring an African-American cast with a budget of $80 million. However, it was a hit and ended up collecting over a $150 million from the market. It also bagged three big awards at the Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Furthermore, it received a total of eight nominations at the 79th Academy Awards and won two of them, i.e., Best Sound Mixing and Best Supporting Actress for Jennifer Hudson for her role of Effie White.
