Jennifer Hudson on Becoming Aretha Franklin for Respect, Rotten Tomatoes

Having been handpicked by Aretha Franklin herself to play the Queen of Soul in the biopic Respect, Jennifer Hudson tells Rotten Tomatoes she felt the pressure to deliver and to honor the icon in her hotly anticipated onscreen portrayal. Talking exclusively to RT about her approach to becoming Franklin for the new film, directed by Leisl Tommy, Hudson says she wanted to capture Franklins spirit on stage as well as off, where she was dedicated to her family, her craft, and to her activism, but also bring her own flavor to the role. See how she did it our extended interview with Hudson, then catch the movie in theaters from August 13, 2021. Watch More: New on RT: Exclusive Interviews: Rotten Tomatoes Originals: Celebrity Games: Music: Courtesy of Extreme Music Join the Conversation: Subscribe to ROTTEN TOMATOES: , 9658