History Trivia / Dreamgirls

* MethodActing: Bill Condon instructed Jennifer Hudson to show up late on the set every day, to better understand Effie's diva behavior.

* DawsonCasting: Despite the fact she played Lorrell, who was the youngest and shyest of the Dreams, Anika Noni Rose is the oldest of the three women by almost a decade, and the most experienced actress by far, having won a Tony in 2004 for ''Theatre/CarolineOrChange''.

** Creator/SpikeLee considered directing the film in the early '90s, with Jasmine Guy as Deena Jones.

* PlayingAgainstType: Ever seen Eddie Murphy outside of his comedic roles? Well, this movie will make you explain.
* RemakeCameo: Loretta Devine who played Lorell onstage cameos as a club singer reminiscing about Jimmy following his death.

* DawsonCasting: Despite the fact she played Lorrell, who was the youngest shyest of the Dreams, Anika Noni Rose is the oldest of the three women by almost a decade, and the most experienced actress by far, having won a Tony in 2004 for ''Theatre/CarolineOrChange''.

* DawsonCasting: Despite the fact she played Lorrell, who was the youngest of the Dreams, Anika Noni Rose is the oldest of the three women by almost a decade.

* ActorAllusion: Effie finds out that [[spoiler: Michelle has replaced her in the group]] in person. Beyonce went through an similar experience but it was geared toward former [[Music/DestinysChild Destiny's Child]] bandmates Letoya Luckett and Latavia Roberson did not know they were out of the group until seeing the "Say My Name" video.

* ActorAllusion: Effie finds out that [[spoiler: Michelle has replaced her in the group]] in person. [[Music/Beyonce Beyonce's]] former [[Music/DestinysChild Destiny's Child]] bandmates Letoya Luckett and Latavia Roberson did not know they were out of the group until seeing the "Say My Name" video.

* ActorAllusion: Effie finds out that [[spoiler: Michelle has replaced her in the group]] in person. Beyonce's former Destiny's Child bandmates Letoya Luckett and Lativia Roberson did not know they were out of the group until seeing the "Say My Name" video.

* PlayingAgainstType: Ever seen Eddie Murphy outside of his comedic roles? Well, that happened thanks to this movie.

* PlayingAgainstType: Eddie Murphy, who is well known in comedies, appearing in a film that really isn't one.

** Curtis makes Deena the star of the group and pushes Effie into the background because Deena is more marketable, even though Effie is more talented and the original lead singer of the group. Then for the film version, Music/BeyonceKnowles (as Deena) got top billing while Jennifer Hudson (as Effie) was officially designated a "supporting actress", even though Effie is the main character of the story.

* CutSong: "Ain't No Party", where Lorrell voices her frustrations at Jimmy for not marrying her. A shame it was cut in the movie, since it gives her a bit of an edge.

** Music/{{BeyonceKnowles}} lost weight, during a break in filming, to make herself look younger for the teenage and early years of Deena Jones.

* AwesomeDearBoy: Creator/JamieFoxx originally turned the film down because the salary was insufficient. He changed his mind when he saw that Creator/EddieMurphy and Music/BeyonceKnowles were attached.

** Music/BeyonceKnowles lost weight, during a break in filming, to make herself look younger for the teenage and early years of Deena Jones.

* ScullyBox: Anika Noni Rose is significantly shorter than Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson, let alone the men, leading to the use of tricks to get her in the same shot as everyone else.

** Curtis makes Deena the star of the group and pushes Effie into the background because Deena is more marketable, even though Effie is more talented and the original lead singer of the group. Then for the film version, Beyonce Knowles (as Deena) got top billing while Jennifer Hudson (as Effie) was officially designated a "supporting actress", even though Effie is the main character of the story.

* DyeingForYourArt: Jennifer Hudson, while having a nice set of curves herself, had to bulk up to play Effie as depicted onstage.

* ScullyBox: Anika Noni Rose is significantly shorter than Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson, let alone the men, leading to the use of tricks to get her in the same shot as everyone else.

* BillingDisplacement: Curtis makes Deena the star of the group and pushes Effie into the background because Deena is more marketable, even though Effie is more talented and the original lead singer of the group. Then for the film version, Beyonce Knowles (as Deena) got top billing while Jennifer Hudson (as Effie) was officially designated a "supporting actress", even though Effie is the main character of the story.

* RemakeCameo: Loretta Devine who played Lorell onstage cameos as a club singer reminiscing about Jimmy before he died.

* AwardCategoryFraud: Jennifer Hudson won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for playing Effie White, even though this role is seen as a lead on stage and had earned Jennifer Holliday a Tony for Best ''Leading'' Actress in a Musical.

* LifeImitatesArt: See BillingDisplacement in the main section.

* AuthorExistenceFailure: Tom Eyen died in 1991, forcing Henry Krieger to collaborate with ''three separate groups of lyricists'' on the film's [[MovieBonusSong Movie bonus songs]].
* AwardCategoryFraud: Jennifer Hudson was given an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the film of ''Dreamgirls'', even though the role of Effie White is seen as a lead on stage and had earned Jennifer Holliday a Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical.

* DyeingForYourArt: Jennifer Hudson, while having a nice set of curves herself, had to bulk up to play Effie as depicted onstage.

* DawsonCasting: Despite the fact she played Lorrell, who was the youngest of the Dreams, Anika Noni Rose is the oldest of the three women by almost a decade.

* AwardCategoryFraud: Jennifer Hudson was given an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the film of ''Dreamgirls'', even though the role of Effie White is seen as a lead on stage and had earned Jennifer Holliday a Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical.

* AwardCategoryFraud: Jennifer Hudson was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for the film of ''Dreamgirls'', even though the role of Effie White is seen as a lead on stage and had earned Jennifer Holliday a Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical.