- Tracie Thomas, Rent, 2005. Famous for not winning the American Idol TV talent show in 2002, Hudson tested for Joanne. At her next audition, she won Effie White in Dreamgirls… and an Oscar!
- Anika Noni Rose, The Princess and the Frog, 2008. Tyra Banks, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé Knowles – they all wanted to be Tiana, Disney’s first African-American princess. Finally, history was made by Dreamgirls’ Rose.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 2