Wonder how Beyonce Knowles really got the starring role in 'Dreamgirls'?
Conventional wisdom would have us believe that the "Bootylicious" beauty was a shoo-in for the role of Deena Jones -- the lead singer of the 60's girl group (patterned after Diana Ross & The Supremes)-- in Bill Condon's big movie remake of 'Dreamgirls,' which opens today in limited release.
But the nine-time Grammy Award winning former Destiny's Choile frontwoman didn't take her auditioning process for granted.
"When she came out to do the song, she was also wearing this amazing black, low-cut, bugle-beaded gown that was very Supremes," recalled the movie's producer Larry Mark in the Jan. issue of 'Vanity Fair' magazine.
"We said, 'Oh my God,' because she was leaving for Japan to perform the next day. So we said, 'Is that gown in your act?' She said 'No, no. I was at Bergdorf's over the weekend and found this, and they tailored it for me. It's for this,'" he further elaborated.
"We were like, 'Whoa, O.K., great.' And then Bill said to her, 'You don't have to bother with any moves, any choreography -- for heaven's sake, don't worry about that."
Knowles told the producers that she watched "girl group tapes over the weekend, so I have some moves for you."
And she sure did.
For her star turn in 'Dreamgirls,' she was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards yesterday; Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical, and Best Original Song - Motion Picture ("Listen").
Knowles has a crazy track on 'B-Day' called "Freakum Dress." For the life of me, I could never get a straight answer out of my gal pal (who shall remain nameless) when I kept asking, "What in the devil is a 'freakum dress'?" Well after reading about her audition process -- I got an idea now.
With much critical acclaim, 'Dreamgirls' opens nationally on Christmas Day.
BV Extras:
-- All about the 'Dreamgirls' book bonanza.
-- Original 'Dreamgirl' star Ben Harney puts his own spin on the classic musical.
-- The Dish, The Dirt & The Divas of 'Dreamgirls," past and present.
-- All about the 'Dreamgirls' 2006 Roadshow.
-- The full details on the new 'Dreamgirls' soundtrack.
