Studio execs pushing for Beyonce Knowles to win Academy Award

**Natee471** · December 7th, 2006, 05:11 PM

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/col/...p-402012c.html

Jennifer Hudson's fans are outraged that studio execs are putting their money on her "Dreamgirls" co-star Beyonce Knowles to win an Academy Award for Best Actress - while relegating Hudson to the Best Supporting Actress category. But we hear Hudson herself is grateful for the second billing. Just like the full-figured actress, her role as Effie White has more meat on it than Beyoncé's glittery-but-skinny part as Deena Jones.

"It's ridiculous to put Jennifer Hudson in the Supporting race," says Tom O'Neill, who tracks awards for TheEnvelope.com. "'Dreamgirls' is her movie. She owns it. She's the emotional heart and soul of that film."

It hasn't gone unnoticed that Jennifer Holliday, who played Effie on Broadway, won the 1982 Tony for Best Actress in a Musical - not the secondary Best Featured Actress.

Some claim Hudson agreed in her contract that she'd defer to the decision of Paramount/DreamWorks execs to campaign for Beyoncé to get the top acting prize. A Paramount rep insists, "It was not contractual," but declined to say how the studio decided who to push for what award.

Though Hudson will be vying with co-star Anika Noni Rose in the Supporting race, a source says she's not at all unhappy. "Jennifer doesn't see it as an issue," says a pal. "She can win as Supporting Actress. It's where she has the strongest chance."

O'Neill agrees. "It's a great Oscar strategy," he says. But Paramount/DreamWorks may not get what they want.

"DreamWorks/Paramount lobbied to get her nominated for a Golden Globe in the Supporting category," O'Neill says. "But Oscar voters can put you wherever they want. They usually follow the studio's recommendations, but Keisha Castle-Hughes campaigned for Supporting for 'Whale Rider,' and voters nominated her for Best [Actress]. The same thing happened with Susan Sarandon in 'Atlantic City.' Both of them lost."

Meanwhile, Jamie Foxx is slotted for Best Actor with Eddie Murphy pegged as Best Supporting Actor. Beyoncé, for one, wishes that Oscar gossips would focus on them.

"They're not starting a rivalry between Eddie and Jamie," she told us at Tuesday's premiere. "They're starting it about the women. It just makes me so sad because we had the time of our lives."

Fantasia Barrino, who beat out Hudson to win "American Idol," is still smarting to have lost the Effie role to her.

"I was a little hurt," she tells Entertainment Weekly. "I remember calling Jennifer. She picked up the phone and I said, 'Heifer, you took my part!'"

**AliceInWonderland** · December 7th, 2006, 05:13 PM

An academy award?!

OH PUL-EESE! I think im gonna puke!

DitaPage* · December 7th, 2006, 05:15 PM

I dont even plan to see this movie, the hype makes me sick, and I'm no fan of Beyonce.

**suede** · December 7th, 2006, 06:52 PM

I didn't know she could act

**Laurent** · December 7th, 2006, 07:14 PM

I hope Beyonce not only loses the Oscar, but she's arrogant enough to stand up and make her way to the stage before realizing she lost.

Then, I hope she's mortified.

**kitten33** · December 7th, 2006, 07:42 PM

"I was a little hurt," she tells Entertainment Weekly. "I remember calling Jennifer. She picked up the phone and I said, 'Heifer, you took my part!'"

I don't think that the standard movie screen could fit the wide canyon that is Fantasia Barrino's mouth.

**Dean James** · December 7th, 2006, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by Laurent

I hope Beyonce not only loses the Oscar, but she's arrogant enough to stand up and make her way to the stage before realizing she lost.

Then, I hope she's mortified.

I hope Beyonce loses Best Actress but Jennifer wins Best Supporting and gets to walk past Beyonce's poo-poo face to get her Oscar.

**SweetPea** · December 7th, 2006, 09:32 PM

^I absolutely hope the same thing!

**twitchy** · December 7th, 2006, 09:56 PM

And then Beyonce can pull a Faith Hill.

**Biatch** · December 7th, 2006, 09:59 PM

This is a movie I won't see: too hyped for being just another musical pushed on us (they follow the Ray , Walk The Line & co. recipe now?),we get slob Foxx (ole Ray

), the BIDEE Beyonce as an actess (let me

) and Eddie Murphy -the bastardly impregnator....

That's just too much for me!!!

**Dean James** · December 7th, 2006, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by twitchy

And then Beyonce can pull a Faith Hill.

That would be PRICELESS!! ooo, love it.

**Beeyotch** · December 7th, 2006, 10:23 PM

I saw DreamGirls at a dinner theater. And I wasn't impressed, even though those actors sang their little hearts out. I think the story wasn't strong or compelling enough, nor was it well written. I dunno, maybe a movie version will be better, but I won't go see it.

In any case, why the hell would Beyonce be nominated in the Best Actress when her part is even smaller than Jennifer Hudson's? Her part just represents the glamorous veneer minus talent role and is NOT as meaty as Jennifer Hudson's. Now, maybe since she's a first-time actress with second billing, no body of work, etc., it's fitting that Jennifer be nominated--and maybe even WIN--for Supporting Actress (as opposed to Best Actress.)

But Beyonce nominated for any Oscar is ridiculous, and a slap in the face of the whole point of the movie: It was all about how it's a shame that image is favored over actual talent, and how EGO and buying into one's fame fucks everything up.