<Ul> <Li> Jamie Foxx as Curtis Taylor , Jr ; based upon Motown founder Berry Gordy , Jr. , Curtis is a slick Cadillac dealer - turned - record executive who founds the Rainbow Records label and shows ruthless ambition in his quest to make his black artists household names with white audiences . At first romantically involved with Effie , Curtis takes a professional and personal interest in Deena after appointing her lead singer of the Dreams in Effie 's place . </Li> <Li> Beyoncé as Deena Jones ; based upon Motown star Diana Ross Deena is a very shy young woman who becomes a star after Curtis makes her lead singer of the Dreams . This , as well as her romantic involvement and later marriage to Curtis , draw Effie 's ire , though Deena realizes over time she is a puppet for her controlling husband . Knowles was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance . </Li> <Li> Jennifer Hudson as Effie White ; inspired by Supremes member Florence Ballard , the plus - sized Effie is a talented yet temperamental singer who suffers when Curtis , the man she loves , replaces her as lead singer of the Dreams and his love interest , and later drops her altogether . With the help of Jimmy 's old manager Marty , Effie begins to resurrect her career a decade later , while raising her daughter Magic , the offspring of her union with Curtis . Hudson won the Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress , among other honors , for her portrayal of Effie . Hudson also became the first American Idol contestant to win both major awards . </Li> <Li> Danny Glover as Marty Madison , Jimmy 's original manager before Curtis steps into the picture , Marty serves as both counsel and confidant to Jimmy , and later to Effie as well . </Li> <Li> Anika Noni Rose as Lorrell Robinson ; inspired by Supremes member Mary Wilson , is a good - natured background singer with the Dreams who falls deeply in love with the married Jimmy Early and becomes his mistress . </Li> <Li> Keith Robinson as C.C. White ; inspired by Motown vice president , artist , and songwriter Smokey Robinson , Effie 's soft - spoken younger brother C.C. ( Clarence Conrad ) serves as the main songwriter for first the Dreams and later the entire Rainbow roster . </Li> <Li> Eddie Murphy as James `` Thunder '' Early ( Jimmy ) ; inspired by R&B / soul singers such as James Brown , Jackie Wilson , and Marvin Gaye , is a raucous performer on the Rainbow label engaged in an adulterous affair with Dreams member Lorrell . Curtis attempts to repackage Early as a pop - friendly balladeer . Jimmy 's stardom fades as the Dreams ' stardom rises , and as a result - he falls into depression ( which he copes with through drug abuse ) . Murphy won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the film . </Li> <Li> Sharon Leal as Michelle Morris ; based upon Supremes member Cindy Birdsong , Curtis ' secretary who replaces Effie in the Dreams and begins dating C.C. </Li> <Li> Hinton Battle as Wayne , a salesman at Curtis ' Cadillac dealership who becomes Rainbow 's first record producer and Curtis ' henchman . </Li> <Li> Loretta Devine as Jazz Singer </Li> <Li> Dawnn Lewis as Melba Early , James ' wife </Li> <Li> John Lithgow as Jerry Harris , a film producer looking to cast Deena </Li> <Li> John Krasinski as Sam Walsh , Jerry Harris ' screenwriter / film director </Li> <Li> Jaleel White as Talent Booker at the Detroit Theatre talent show </Li> <Li> Yvette Nicole Brown as Curtis ' Secretary </Li> <Li> Mariah I. Wilson as Magic , Effie 's daughter </Li> </Ul>
<Ul> <Li> Jamie Foxx as Curtis Taylor , Jr ; based upon Motown founder Berry Gordy , Jr. , Curtis is a slick Cadillac dealer - turned - record executive who founds the Rainbow Records label and shows ruthless ambition in his quest to make his black artists household names with white audiences . At first romantically involved with Effie , Curtis takes a professional and personal interest in Deena after appointing her lead singer of the Dreams in Effie 's place . </Li> <Li> Beyoncé as Deena Jones ; based upon Motown star Diana Ross Deena is a very shy young woman who becomes a star after Curtis makes her lead singer of the Dreams . This , as well as her romantic involvement and later marriage to Curtis , draw Effie 's ire , though Deena realizes over time she is a puppet for her controlling husband . Knowles was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance . </Li> <Li> Jennifer Hudson as Effie White ; inspired by Supremes member Florence Ballard , the plus - sized Effie is a talented yet temperamental singer who suffers when Curtis , the man she loves , replaces her as lead singer of the Dreams and his love interest , and later drops her altogether . With the help of Jimmy 's old manager Marty , Effie begins to resurrect her career a decade later , while raising her daughter Magic , the offspring of her union with Curtis . Hudson won the Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress , among other honors , for her portrayal of Effie . Hudson also became the first American Idol contestant to win both major awards . </Li> <Li> Danny Glover as Marty Madison , Jimmy 's original manager before Curtis steps into the picture , Marty serves as both counsel and confidant to Jimmy , and later to Effie as well . </Li> <Li> Anika Noni Rose as Lorrell Robinson ; inspired by Supremes member Mary Wilson , is a good - natured background singer with the Dreams who falls deeply in love with the married Jimmy Early and becomes his mistress . </Li> <Li> Keith Robinson as C.C. White ; inspired by Motown vice president , artist , and songwriter Smokey Robinson , Effie 's soft - spoken younger brother C.C. ( Clarence Conrad ) serves as the main songwriter for first the Dreams and later the entire Rainbow roster . </Li> <Li> Eddie Murphy as James `` Thunder '' Early ( Jimmy ) ; inspired by R&B / soul singers such as James Brown , Jackie Wilson , and Marvin Gaye , is a raucous performer on the Rainbow label engaged in an adulterous affair with Dreams member Lorrell . Curtis attempts to repackage Early as a pop - friendly balladeer . Jimmy 's stardom fades as the Dreams ' stardom rises , and as a result - he falls into depression ( which he copes with through drug abuse ) . Murphy won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the film . </Li> <Li> Sharon Leal as Michelle Morris ; based upon Supremes member Cindy Birdsong , Curtis ' secretary who replaces Effie in the Dreams and begins dating C.C. </Li> <Li> Hinton Battle as Wayne , a salesman at Curtis ' Cadillac dealership who becomes Rainbow 's first record producer and Curtis ' henchman . </Li> <Li> Loretta Devine as Jazz Singer </Li> <Li> Dawnn Lewis as Melba Early , James ' wife </Li> <Li> John Lithgow as Jerry Harris , a film producer looking to cast Deena </Li> <Li> John Krasinski as Sam Walsh , Jerry Harris ' screenwriter / film director </Li> <Li> Jaleel White as Talent Booker at the Detroit Theatre talent show </Li> <Li> Yvette Nicole Brown as Curtis ' Secretary </Li> <Li> Mariah I. Wilson as Magic , Effie 's daughter </Li> </Ul>
who is jennifer hudson 's character in dreamgirls based on
who is jennifer hudson 's character in dreamgirls based on
Supremes member Florence Ballard
Supremes member Florence Ballard