Beyoncé played Deena Jones in her first leading film role in the 2006 musical drama Dreamgirls.
Dreamgirls, directed by Bill Condon, is adapted from the 1981 Broadway musical of the same name. It fictionalizes the rise of a female singing group during the 1960s and 1970s, drawing comparisons to the history of Motown acts.
Deena Jones is a member of the Dreams who becomes the group’s lead singer after Curtis Taylor Jr. reshapes its image. Beyoncé performed several songs in the film, including “Listen,” which was written specifically for the movie.
Jennifer Hudson played Effie White, the role that earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. That casting distinction is why Beyoncé’s character is sometimes incorrectly remembered as Effie.