Beyoncé Once Revealed the Project She Saw as the ‘Best Thing’ She’d Ever Done: ‘It’s Going to Be Life Changing for Me’
In 2006, Beyoncé believed a recent project had the power to change the course of her life. Her career had been on a constant rise for years at that point, but she thought things were about to change. She shared why she was so excited about her starring role in Dreamgirls.
Beyoncé believed one project would change her life
In 2006, Beyoncé starred in Dreamgirls as Deena Jones, a singer based on Diana Ross. She knew she had to jump at the chance when she heard about the role.
“It was a big deal, this movie,” she told Spin Magazine. “Not only did I love the story, but I’d be starring alongside people like Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover, Eddie Murphy. The moment I was offered it, I knew I had to land it.”
After they finished filming, Beyoncé expressed immense pride in her work.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” she said. “It’s going to be life changing for me, I can feel it.”
The director spoke about what it was like to work with Beyoncé on the project
Director Bill Condon also saw the role as pivotal for Beyoncé. She had acted before, but with Dreamgirls, she proved she could handle a leading role.
“She has an amazing ability to master things,” he said. “And the way she adapted here, carrying a movie when she’s only ever been a supporting actress before, was deeply impressive. Plus, the role could have been written for her.”
He believed her poise on set and believability on the screen could set her up for a solid career.
“I’ll never forget this one scene where her character had been spotted by some fans and so she starts waving to them,” he said. “At the same time, some passersby wandered over, saw Beyoncé and started screaming, so she waved to them as well, still in character. It’s like art mirroring real life, and Beyoncé handled it all beautifully. I’ve little doubt she can do anything she wants in Hollywood when people see her in this.”
She didn’t think Destiny’s Child was anything like The Supremes
The role felt fitting for Beyoncé because people had compared her to Diana Ross in the past. People believed she couldn’t wait to leave behind Destiny’s Child for her solo career. Beyoncé rejected the comparison, though.
“The reason is because I loved being in a group,” she told The Guardian. “I do love sisterhood. I loved that being in a group was about compromise and sacrifice. All of us — and not just me, this is about Kelly and Michelle also — whatever was best for the group, no matter whether it was best for us individually, would let something go. That element of compromise and sacrifice taught me a lot about myself and about friendship.”
