'That’s my newest dream. I would love to play Oprah! I’ll put it out into the universe, just like I did with Aretha,' says Jennifer Hudson. Photo: Reuters
Respect opens in US theatres Aug 13. Now that Dreamgirls Oscar winner and Chicago native Jennifer Hudson has realised her 15-year dream of playing soul giant Aretha Franklin, who’s next on her wish list of screen portrayals?
“Oprah!” Hudson said, after a pause of one-eighth of a second in a recent interview.
“That’s my newest dream. I would love to play Oprah! I’ll put it out into the universe, just like I did with Aretha.”
In an OWN Spotlight interview premiering last month, Winfrey conducted her latest sit-down and walk-around with Hudson. “On the special,” Hudson told me, smiling, “I was waiting for her to ask me who I wanted to play next. And I’d have been, like, ‘You!’ I would’ve loved to see her face. I think that’d be amazing. She’s another great legend in a whole new direction. I know one day we’re going to have The Oprah Story, and I’m getting older (Hudson turns 40 on Sept 12) and this time I don’t want to wait 15 years. So, c’mon now! Here we go!” – Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service
