Beyoncé played Deena Jones in the film Dreamgirls in 2006.
Dreamgirls was released in December 2006 and adapted from the 1981 Broadway musical of the same name. The story follows a fictional female singing group and draws on the history of Motown-era popular music. Beyoncé portrayed Deena Jones, a member whose rise to lead singer changes the group’s internal relationships and public image.
Jennifer Hudson played Effie White, Jamie Foxx played Curtis Taylor Jr., and Eddie Murphy played James “Thunder” Early. Hudson won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, while the film received several other nominations. Beyoncé’s performance included songs such as “Listen,” which was written specifically for the film and became one of its best-known musical numbers.