Which actress did Beyoncé play in the 2006 film Dreamgirls?

Beyoncé played Deena Jones in the 2006 film Dreamgirls. Directed by Bill Condon, the film adapted the 1981 Broadway musical about a fictional female singing group and the music-business pressures surrounding its rise.

Deena Jones is part of the Dreamettes, who become the Dreams. After manager Curtis Taylor Jr. changes the group’s image and sound, Deena becomes the lead singer, replacing Effie White. The role explores ambition, image-making, commercial success, and the personal cost of fame.

Jennifer Hudson played Effie White and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Beyoncé performed several songs in the film, including “Listen,” which was written specifically for the movie and became one of her prominent early solo-era ballads. Dreamgirls also starred Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, and Anika Noni Rose.