Beyonce 'too sexy' for Dreamgirls role
Bang! Showbiz | Friday, 26 January 2007

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TOO HOT: Beyonce also missed out on a role in Dreamgirls after being deemed 'too sexy'.

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Beyonce Knowles was almost overlooked for the role of Deena Jones in Dreamgirls because she was too sexy.


Director Bill Condon has revealed he had reservations about casting the 25-year-old star as the Motown singer, even though she made it clear she desperately wanted the part.

He told Bang! Showbiz: "Beyonce did come after us, it wasn't the over way round. We met, I loved her but I still had to question two things. One of them was it was a level of acting she had never attempted before, but more than that, you know, when you have got such a well developed stage persona, we all can name names of people who can do one thing brilliantly, but could she adapt to something that was so really different?

"If you think of the way she is sexually on a stage. She is so powerful and contemporary, and this was about something very different. It was about withholding and it was about a kind of different sexuality.

"She volunteered to audition. She did a screen test, I didn't even have to put it together, it was very quick, we didn't see anybody else. She really wanted the part."

Beyonce Knowles and Shakira are teaming up for a duet
January 25, 2007

Beyoncé Knowles and Shakira are teaming up for a duet.

The 'Bootylicious' diva and the hip-shaking Latino singer are collaborating on a track called 'Beautiful Liar' which will feature on the special-edition reissue of Beyoncé's latest solo album, 'B'Day'.

Beyoncé - who is currently starring in 'Dreamgirls' - said that deciding to work with Shakira was easy, because she's always been a fan of her music.

Beyoncé said: "I've always loved her and I've always wanted to work with her and the song fits perfectly."

'Beautiful Liar' tells the story of two women who stand up to a double-dealing man who is trying to bed them both.

Beyoncé explained to MTV: "It basically talks about two women. The same guy is trying to get at both of them but instead of them fighting, they're saying, 'He's a beautiful liar, let's not fight, let's stick together - forget him!' I think it's a great concept."

Before becoming a global superstar as a solo artist and acclaimed acctress, Beyoncé was the lead singer of Destiny's Child. The reissue of 'B'Day' will also come with a DVD featuring five new videos.

Penelope Cruz, nominated for best actress for her role in Volver, with Canadian writer Paul,Haggis last fall. Haggis got his third straight screenwriting nomination, this one for "Letters From Iwo Jima."(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
January 23, 2007 - 12:36

'Dreamgirls' leads Oscar noms; Gosling, Haggis, Mehta among Canuck nominees

DAVID GERMAIN

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - The musical "Dreamgirls" led Academy Awards contenders Tuesday with eight nominations, but surprisingly was shut out in the best picture category after being considered a potential front-runner.

The sweeping ensemble drama "Babel" was close behind with seven, including best picture and acting honours for two newcomers to U.S. audiences, Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi.