Jennifer Hudson: more than just a pretty voice.
Variety reports that Jennifer Hudson will star in “Winnie,” a biopic of Winnie Mandela, the former wife of Nelson Mandela, the activist who led the fight against apartheid in South Africa. Darrell J. Roodt is directing a script written by Andre Pieterse, Roodt and Paul L. Johnson; the Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob biography “Winnie Mandela:A Life,” serves as the script’s main source.
Winnie Mandela was known as the “Mother of the Nation,” for her role in supporting Nelson Mandela’s work. Later she became a controversial figure, for her extremist views and seeming acceptance of violent means. She also was convincted of fraud. Nevertheless, by 2009 she had won enough support to gain a spot on the South African presidential ballot (she lost). Winnie and Nelson Mandela are divorce.
Hudson won a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in “Dreamgirls,” and if you saw that movie, you know that wasn’t a token award for her singing; she nailed the role of Effie cold. I haven’t seen her other two film appearances, “Sex and the City” and “The Secret Life of Bees,” but I do believe she is one of those doesn’t-happen-everyday cases of a singer who actually can act, not just one of the many singers who think they can act.
“Winnie” will begin filming at the end of May in South Africa.
Jennifer Hudson is one incredible young lady. I know she will do very well playing the role of Winnie. This multi-talented artist has no limits. She has a great spirit and is fantastic. People will soon enough stop hating on others who are truely one of Gods favors.