Beyoncé portrayed Deena Jones in the 2006 film Dreamgirls. Deena is a singer who becomes the lead vocalist of the fictional group the Dreams after the group’s manager changes its lineup and sound.
Dreamgirls was directed by Bill Condon and adapted from the stage musical of the same name. The story is fictional, but it draws on aspects of the history of Motown, girl groups, and the changing American popular-music industry. Beyoncé’s character is loosely associated with the kind of polished pop stardom represented by figures such as Diana Ross, though Deena is not a direct biography.
Jennifer Hudson played Effie White, earning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Anika Noni Rose played Lorrell Robinson, and Jamie Foxx played Curtis Taylor Jr. Beyoncé also recorded songs for the film’s soundtrack, including “Listen,” a major solo number written for the movie.