Dreamgirls - Beyonce Knowles interview
Compiled by Jack Foley
DREAMGIRLS star Beyoncé Knowles talks about why appearing in the film means the world to her and how she lost weight to appear unrecognisable to herself in the film.
Q. You worked really hard to get the role of Deena in Dreamgirls. What did you love about it so much?
Beyoncé Knowles: I loved the legacy of Dreamgirls. I loved the Broadway play. I loved the musical. I loved the idea of doing a film with Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Bill Condon. I thought that Bill could bring out something else in me and everybody else… which he did. So it paid off.
Q. Did you have any reservations about being the girl with the bland voice in the movie?
Beyoncé Knowles: I did. And then I realised that, well, I have nine Grammy Awards. I wouldn’t have that if I couldn’t sing. So I didn’t think I had anything to prove. If you look from the outside you might think that Deena and I are very similar. Obviously, I’m in a group and I did a solo album. We [Destiny’s Child] are friends, we did a talent show, and we lost. But if you look really closely, we’re very different. Deena is from Detroit projects and she didn’t have a father and had to care for her mother. She didn’t have a lot of honest people around her. Her need to get out of that was because of all the things that she went through in her life.
Me, I grew up middle class, I went to private school. My parents were very successful. My father is in my life. I didn’t need it the way she [Deena] needed it. Destiny’s Child? We are friends. We take holidays together and we love each other. We did a group album, a solo album and another group album because we love each other.
Q. Do you ever have arguments with these friends, like your character does with her fellow Dreamettes?
Beyoncé Knowles: No. We never have an argument over a guy or who sings what. Deena was the lead singer because of her looks – which was really shallow. I’m the lead singer because of my voice and because of my gift, and my talent. I write songs. So it’s very different. I was very driven at 16 and so was Deena. She likes glamour and I do too. So we do have certain things in common.
Q. Do you want to do more movies now?
Beyoncé Knowles: I’ve got a lot of scripts but nothing that I love yet. One thing I learned on this is that I’m not going to waste my time on anything that I don’t feel the same passion for. I was so eager to get this part. I think I would have died if I didn’t get it. I would have cried and been depressed because I wanted it so badly. I have never wanted anything that badly. I think that’s what you’re supposed to feel when you go into any project.
I love musicals and I’m happy they are coming back because I’d love to do more. But I’d also love to do something dark, something that has nothing to do with music or comedy. Anything, but I’m still learning what I can do.
Q. Is it true that you pigged out after finishing Dreamgirls?
Beyoncé Knowles: Anika Noni Rose made me a strawberry cheesecake/shortcake and I was crying because the movie had wrapped, and eating the cake in my dressing room. I was so happy because I was eating the cake and so sad because the film was over.
Q. Why had you wanted to lose so much weight in the first place?
Beyoncé Knowles: Because, for one, I didn’t want to recognise myself. I had the darker, big hair and looked different because of hair and make-up but I wanted it to be more than that. I was watching Diana Ross, Cher and Twiggy and everyone was so skinny back then. So I felt if I was wanting to be a fashionista in that time I would have tried to be thin. So I did it. It was not a suggestion from anyone but myself and I don’t recognise myself.