---
name: "Jennifer Hudson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jennifer-hudson"
fi1m_id: "jennifer-hudson"
imdb_id: "nm1617685"
tmdb_id: 15565
wikidata_id: "Q192410"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "12 September 1981"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 55
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-23T04:09:03.076317+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Jennifer Hudson

## Identity

Jennifer Hudson

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jennifer-hudson
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** jennifer-hudson
- **IMDb ID:** nm1617685
- **TMDB ID:** 15565
- **Wikidata ID:** Q192410
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Hudson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q192410, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1617685/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15565

Actor. Born 12 September 1981 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 12 September 1981, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- **Active:** 2006–present
- **Also known as:** Jennifer Kate Hudson, J.Hud
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 6: 5 acting, 1 crew
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 55, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 61 (2), 2010s 54 (2), 2020s 58 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 58 to 52 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 4, Drama 3, Animation 2, Family 2, Fantasy 2, Music 2
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,423m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Hudson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q192410, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1617685/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15565

## Coming up

- *Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk* (2027-02-26), as Ophelia the Owl (voice)

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Sing*](https://film.one/film/sing.md) (70), [*Cats*](https://film.one/film/cats.md) (38)
- **Pluto TV:** [*Dreamgirls*](https://film.one/film/dreamgirls.md) (68)
- **Apple TV:** [*PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie*](https://film.one/film/paw-patrol-the-dino-movie.md) (43)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Jennifer Hudson

> Jennifer Hudson is most persuasive when the force of her singing lets us hear a character’s hurt. We rate that concentration highly, even when the films around her give us little else to recommend.

When Jennifer Hudson sings ‘Memory’ in *Cats* (2019), the digital fur briefly stops being the most noticeable thing on screen. As Grizabella, she gives the song a concentration that much of the film lacks, letting us hear the hurt beneath the force of her voice. We were moved because she made us care about the character when we had been distracted by the effects. Tom Hooper’s muddled staging and the restless cutting leave a poor musical, and her performance cannot repair those failings. Her achievement is to make the song feel like something Grizabella needs to say, even when the surrounding film gives us so little reason to listen.

Her screen debut as Effie White in *Dreamgirls* (2006) brought widespread recognition and established the demanding musical number as a particular strength. Supporting film parts, television work and animation followed, including the voice of Young Nana in *Sing* (2016). Playing Aretha Franklin in *Respect* (2021) gave her a lead role requiring close attention to vocal style and physical presence. There is a limitation in that film’s conventional, flattering treatment of its subject, which restricts how much dramatic depth the performance can find. These substantial musical roles make more persuasive use of her than casting which asks an audience to be pleased merely that she is present.

Cal Brunker’s *PAW Patrol* film (2026), in which she voices Lilian Ledes, illustrates the less promising alternative. Our objection is not to Hudson doing a film for preschoolers, but to thin writing that seems to count recognisable names as entertainment in themselves. There is care in the treatment of Rex and some dinosaur diversion, yet little for Hudson’s presence to improve without a funny situation to work with. For her next musical, we would want the scenes between the songs to give her something equally demanding to do.

## Biography

Jennifer Hudson is an American actor and singer. She rose to prominence as a finalist on the third season of American Idol in 2004. Her film debut came in Dreamgirls (2006) as Effie White, for which she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Hudson's subsequent film roles include Louise in Sex and the City (2008), Rosaleen Daise in The Secret Life of Bees (2008), Grizabella in Cats (2019), Aretha Franklin in Respect (2021), and the voice of Lilian Ledes in PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie (2026). She has also appeared in Sing (2016) and on television series including Empire (2015).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

### Performed in (5) — the average rests on these

- *PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie* (2026), Fi1m 43, as Lilian Ledes (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/paw-patrol-the-dino-movie.md)
- *Cats* (2019), Fi1m 38, as Grizabella — [page](https://film.one/film/cats.md)
- *Sing* (2016), Fi1m 70, as Young Nana (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/sing.md)
- *Sex and the City* (2008), Fi1m 54, as Louise — [page](https://film.one/film/sex-and-the-city.md)
- *Dreamgirls* (2006), Fi1m 68, as Effie White — [page](https://film.one/film/dreamgirls.md)

### Crew (1)

- *The Color Purple* (2023), Fi1m 73, Songs — [page](https://film.one/film/the-color-purple-2023.md)

## Complete filmography (31)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk* (2027), as Ophelia the Owl (voice)
- *PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie* (2026), as Lilian Ledes (voice) — Fi1m 43, [page](https://film.one/film/paw-patrol-the-dino-movie.md)
- *GOAT* (2026), as Louise Harris (voice)
- *Christmas with Andrea Bocelli & Friends: A Grammy Holiday Special* (2024), Actor
- *Breathe* (2024), as Maya
- *The Color Purple* (2023), as Songs — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/the-color-purple-2023.md)
- *Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur* (2023), series, as Mane (voice)
- *Tell It Like a Woman* (2022), as Pepcy / Kim
- *Respect* (2021), as Aretha Franklin · Executive Producer, Songs
- *Monster* (2021), as Mrs. Harmon
- *Baba Yaga* (2021), as Forest (voice) · Executive Producer
- *In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover* (2020), as Jennifer Hudson
- *Cats* (2019), as Grizabella — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/cats.md)
- *Sandy Wexler* (2017), as Courtney Clarke
- *Hairspray Live!* (2016), as Motormouth Maybelle, Songs
- *Sing* (2016), as Young Nana (voice) — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/sing.md)
- *Confirmation* (2016), as Angela Wright
- *Chi-Raq* (2015), as Irene
- *Empire* (2015), series, as Michelle White
- *Lullaby* (2014), as Nurse Carrie
- *Black Nativity* (2013), as Naima
- *The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete* (2013), as Gloria
- *Call Me Crazy: A Five Film* (2013), as Maggie
- *The Three Stooges* (2012), as Sister Rosemary
- *Smash* (2012), series, as Veronica Moore
- *Winnie Mandela* (2011), as Winnie Mandela
- *Winged Creatures* (2009), as Kathy Archenault
- *The Secret Life of Bees* (2008), as Rosaleen Daise
- *Sex and the City* (2008), as Louise — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/sex-and-the-city.md)
- *Dreamgirls* (2006), as Effie White — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/dreamgirls.md)
- *The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas* (2006), as Jewel

## Gallery

- ![Jennifer Hudson](https://film.one/media/person/338/gallery-75ec9592a48d.jpg) Jennifer Hudson — Kolby Ari, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Jennifer_Hudson_at_MVAAFF_2025_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Jennifer_Hudson_at_MVAAFF_2025_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![President Barack Obama dances with his wife and first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, while Jennifer Hudson serenades them during the 2013 Commander ](https://film.one/media/person/338/gallery-c0f7cec08821.jpg) President Barack Obama dances with his wife and first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, while Jennifer Hudson serenades them during the 2013 Commander  — Chief Master Sgt. Robert Valenca, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/2013_Presidential_Inauguration_130121-F-RG506-247.jpg/1280px-2013_Presidential_Inauguration_130121-F-RG506-247.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![United States President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama dance at the 2013 presidential inaugural ball on 21 January 2013.](https://film.one/media/person/338/gallery-1cd0b0cca25e.jpg) United States President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama dance at the 2013 presidential inaugural ball on 21 January 2013. — White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Barack_and_Michelle_Obama_dance_at_2013_inaugural_ball.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Fred Nelson and Jennifer Hudson (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/338/gallery-c3cf5295fb39.jpg) Fred Nelson and Jennifer Hudson (2023) — La'D'Music, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Fred_Nelson_and_Jennifer_Hudson.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Jennifer Hudson](https://film.one/media/person/338/gallery-c8e6a71b8eae.jpg) Jennifer Hudson — Image via TMDB
- ![Jennifer Hudson](https://film.one/media/person/338/gallery-9bcd5ff3a5f9.jpg) Jennifer Hudson — Image via TMDB
- ![Jennifer Hudson](https://film.one/media/person/338/gallery-28435d5512b2.jpg) Jennifer Hudson — Image via TMDB
- ![Jennifer Hudson performing at the 2018 Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai](https://film.one/media/person/338/gallery-7d2577a8a39e.jpg) Jennifer Hudson performing at the 2018 Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai — Fuzheado, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Jennifer-hudson-gesf-2018-8400.jpg/1280px-Jennifer-hudson-gesf-2018-8400.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jennifer Hudson performing at the 2018 Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai](https://film.one/media/person/338/gallery-9bb5d614c9bf.jpg) Jennifer Hudson performing at the 2018 Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai — Fuzheado, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Jennifer-hudson-gesf-2018-8400_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Jennifer-hudson-gesf-2018-8400_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jennifer Hudson](https://film.one/media/person/338/gallery-15ecdb36edef.jpg) Jennifer Hudson — Image via TMDB
- ![Jennifer Hudson](https://film.one/media/person/338/gallery-76aaccbeac54.jpg) Jennifer Hudson — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won

- 2007: Best Supporting Actress (won), for *Dreamgirls*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won

- 2007: Best Actress in a Supporting Role (won), for *Dreamgirls*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 2006: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (won), for *Dreamgirls*

### SAG Awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- 2007: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (won), for *Dreamgirls*
- 2007: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (nominated), for *Dreamgirls*

### Other awards — 13 won, 13 nominated

- BET Her Award 2014: BET Her Award (nominated), for *I Can't Describe (The Way I Feel)*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture 2014: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (nominated), for *Winnie Mandela*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album 2012: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album (won), for *I Remember Me*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist 2012: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist (nominated)
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video 2012: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video (won)
- BET Award for Best Actor & Actress 2009: BET Award for Best Actor & Actress (nominated), for *The Secret Life of Bees*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album 2009: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album (won), for *Jennifer Hudson*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo or Group 2009: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo or Group (won)
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist 2009: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist (nominated)
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video 2009: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video (nominated)
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist 2009: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist (won)
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song 2009: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song (nominated), for *Spotlight*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture 2009: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (nominated), for *The Secret Life of Bees*
- Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 2008: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (nominated)
- Grammy Award for Best R&B Album 2008: Grammy Award for Best R&B Album (won), for *Jennifer Hudson*
- Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 2008: Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (nominated)
- BET Award for Best Actor & Actress 2007: BET Award for Best Actor & Actress (won), for *Dreamgirls*
- BET Award for Best New Artist 2007: BET Award for Best New Artist (won)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Performance 2007: MTV Movie Award for Best Performance (nominated), for *Dreamgirls*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture 2007: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (won), for *Dreamgirls*
- Soul Train Music Award for Sammy Davis, Jr. – Entertainer of the Year 2007: Soul Train Music Award for Sammy Davis, Jr. – Entertainer of the Year (won)
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast 2006: Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast (nominated), for *Dreamgirls*
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress 2006: Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress (won), for *Dreamgirls*
- National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress 2006: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Dreamgirls*
- Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture 2006: Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (won), for *Dreamgirls*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture 2002: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (won), for *Respect*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jennifer-hudson