Jennifer Hudson Takes Home Best Supporting Actress at NAACP Image Awards

Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson is on a winning streak. Hudson won Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Dreamgirls" at the NAACP Image Awards on Friday (March 2, 2007).

"There is nothing like being recognized and honored by your own." said Hudson, who won in the same category at the Oscars on Sunday.

Hudson first gained notice as one of the finalists on the third season of the FOX television series American Idol.

Hudson was born in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, where she graduated in 1999.
In November 2005, Hudson was cast in the prized role of Effie White, the role originally created in a legendary Broadway performance by Jennifer Holliday, for the film adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls. Hudson won the role over hundreds of professional singers and actresses including, ironically, Fantasia Barrino who had beaten out Hudson, among thousands of others, to win American Idol. Hudson had to gain 20 pounds in order to play the role. Filming of Dreamgirls began on January 9, 2006, and the film went into limited release on December 25, 2006 and national release on January 12, 2007.