Jennifer Hudson on Broadway Debut: 'It's Coming'

In an interview with Variety, Academy Award and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson spoke about her successful career in all aspects of show business, as well as the possibility of making her debut on the Great White Way.

The actress will soon be seen in the film 'Black Nativity,' which marks her first movie musical since making her film debut in 2006's 'Dreamgirls.' Why the long gap in big screen musicals? "I don't want to be typecast," she explained, "this industry is quick to box you in and say, 'OK, everything you do should be a musical.' So I'm very selective."

'Nativity,' is based on Langston Hughes' acclaimed play, which made its Broadway debut in 1961. In the film, described as "a modern retelling of the Nativity story with an all-black cast", Hudson portrays the single mother of a troubled teen (Jacob Latimore) who is sent to spend the holidays with his grandparents, played by Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett.

"What made me want to do 'Black Nativity' was the fact I felt it had something that is missing in a lot of films today," she continues. "It's a family-oriented film and it's based around the holidays. These are two things that I love."

Hudson cites 'The Bodyguard' as one of her favorite movie musicals. A stage adaptation of the film is currently playing on London's West End and is poised to make a transfer to Broadway. Will this present the opportunity for Hudson to finally make her long-awaited Broadway debut? The actress reveals that she has yet to be approached about the idea. "Not yet," she shared. "But theater is a whole other beast. That's a huge commitment, being in the theater world, so give me a little more time for that. Just a little more."

Yet she certainly does not rule out an imminent debut on the Broadway stage. "I absolutely want to do that. But again, it's all about timing," she comments. "Theater is very stationary and I'm used to being able to travel around. So I'm not ready yet, but I'm gearing up for it. It's coming."

Hudson will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today to honor her music work. She has also appeared in several high-profile performances over the past year, including the presidential inauguration, the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards. The performer just released her new single "I Can't Describe" from her upcoming third studio album, and was recently seen on TV in a multi-arc guest starring role on NBC's Smash.

Read the interview in full here!

Photo: Eric Liebowitz/NBC

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos