In the 2006 film Dreamgirls, Beyoncé played the singer Deena Jones.
Dreamgirls is a musical drama directed by Bill Condon and adapted from the stage musical of the same name. It fictionalizes the rise of a 1960s Black female singing group and the music-business pressures surrounding its success. Beyoncé’s character, Deena Jones, becomes the group’s lead singer after manager Curtis Taylor Jr. reshapes its public image.
The role drew comparisons to the history of Motown-era vocal groups, but Dreamgirls is not a direct biography of the Supremes or any single real group. Beyoncé performed several songs in the film, including “Listen,” which became one of her prominent soundtrack recordings.
Jennifer Hudson played Effie White and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Anika Noni Rose played Lorell Robinson, while Jamie Foxx played Curtis Taylor Jr. Those characters are sometimes confused because the film’s central group and business story involve all four performers.