Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson's dream role? To portray Oprah Winfrey

'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.