Jennifer Hudson to Star as Winnie Mandela

Season 3 finalist Jennifer Hudson has been tapped to play Nelson Mandelas ex-wife, Winnie, in the upcoming movie Winnie. The movie will portray the ups and downs of Winnies life as a politician, activist, mother, wife, as well as a person who was jailed, convicted of fraud, and abuse.

I was compelled and moved when I read the script, Jennifer told Variety. Winnie Mandela is a complex and extraordinary woman and Im honored to be the actress asked to portray her. This is a powerful part of history that should be told. The movie will being shooting in various locations throughout South Africa starting May 30, 2010. Andre Pieterse, Darrell J. Roodt and Paul L. Johnson created the script from the biography Winnie Mandela: A Life by Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob, and Darrell J. Roodt will direct the film. Jennifer has also been tapped to sing the movies theme song.

This obviously isnt Jennifers first starring role in a major motion picture. In 2007 she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in her role as Effie in Dreamgirls. She also played Carrie Bradshaws assistant in Sex and the City: The Movie and Rosaleen in The Secret Life of Bees.

Jennifer performed on Season 8 of American Idol during Songs of the Cinema week. View photos of her performance.

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