Oscars success for Dreamgirl
Jennifer Hudson made a remarkable recovery from her dismissal on American Idol to claim the best supporting actress award at this year's Oscars.
Her role in Dreamgirls mirrors her real life in a number of ways as she plays a rejected member of a 1960s girl group who strikes out alone.
Hudson had her own dreams dashed when she was rejected by American Idol judge Simon Cowell after reaching the finals of the hit US TV show in 2004.
On the show, Cowell described her as out of her depth in the competition and Hudson later admitted: "I cried all the next day. It definitely hurt."
But her Oscar success should make up for her Idol failure, especially since she beat the eventual winner of that year's American Idol, Fantasia Barrino, to the role.
After receiving her Oscar, an emotional Jennifer Hudson gushed: "I cannot believe this. Look what God can do. If my grandmother were here to see me now - she was my biggest inspiration for everything. Thank you all for helping me keep the faith, even when I didn't believe"
Hudson recently became the third African-American woman to feature on the cover of American Vogue in the magazine's 115-year history, despite having to put on 20 pounds for her role in Dreamgirls.
Other winners at the 2007 Oscars were Dame Helen Mirren, Forest Whitaker and Martin Scorsese who won the best director award at the sixth time of asking with The Departed.
