Jennifer Hudson Tells Taye Diggs She Auditioned for ‘Rent’: ‘I Was So Bad’
Music October 12, 2022
Jennifer Hudson is opening up about where her acting dreams took her before “Dreamgirls.”
On “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (original air date October 12, 2022), Taye Diggs — who portrayed the character of Benjamin “Benny” Coffin III in the 1996 original Broadway production of “Rent” — discussed the iconic play’s 25th anniversary.
During their chat, Jennifer said she went out for the 2005 film adaptation — where Taye reprised his role — and was “so bad” in her first Hollywood audition.
Despite this, the event turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it taught Jennifer how to navigate future auditions.
“When people don’t invest, that’s not a good sign,” she said. “But if they give you feedback...”
“Everything there’s a lesson,” Taye commented.
Fortunately, the next role that JHud auditioned for was Effie White in 2006’s “Dreamgirls,” the movie for which she won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.
Taye also told Jennifer that he originally didn’t want to audition for the Broadway production of “Rent.”
“I moved to New York [and] my agents were telling me to focus on film and television,” he said. “My agent said go [to the audition]. I got called back [and] I booked it.”
At the time, Taye admitted that he and his castmates “had no idea” how the musical — about a group of impoverished young artists in Lower Manhattan’s East Village — would turn out. However, he said, he knew there were “talented and good people” involved.
“Rent” ended up becoming a massive success, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1996.
“When it hit, we all felt special,” Taye said. “Now, [‘Rent’ is] something different; [it] is historical.”
“The Jennifer Hudson Show” airs weekdays. Check your local listings.
