‘Dreamgirls’ Director: Beyonce Put A Lot Into Her Role

You might think that because she didn’t draw an Oscar nomination for her work in “Dreamgirls,” Beyonce may not have been as strong an actress as Jennifer Hudson or Eddie Murphy.

But don’t tell that to the man who directed her in the musical.

Bill Condon says though she doesn’t have an Academy Award nomination to show for it, that doesn’t mean Beyonce didn’t put a lot into her role as Deena.

For example, Condon says Beyonce had to take a different approach to oozing sexuality on-stage than the “strong, aggressive way” she does as part of her performing style today. He notes that performers in the 60’s had to be “kind of withholding” when it came to their sexuality.

Condon also says it was Beyonce’s idea to blend together the personas of both Diana Ross and Marilyn Monroe as a way to appeal to a crossover audience.

Condon says Beyonce “channeled a little Marilyn Monroe” because she knew that her character in Dreamgirls would draw from the images of what he calls the “prevailing sex goddesses at the time.”