Over the weekend, former American Idol star Jordin Sparks made her big screen debut in Sparkle (check out Richard Roeper's review here), but the singer-turned-actress isn't the fist to transition from reality show contestant to movies.
Starting with Season One winner Kelly Clarkson, Idol has become a show that not only introduces new singing talent, but acting talent as well. Well, perhaps 2003's From Justin to Kelly didn't work quite as well for Clarkson as she would have hoped, considering it's her first and only movie role, but other Idol contestants have done very well on the big screen, including Academy Award–winner Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) and more as profiled in the above Hollywood Dailies clip.
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This weekend sees the release of the musical remake of Sparkle, based on the 1976 movie of the same name (which, in turn, was inspired by story of The Supremes), and will mark the final performance of Whitney Houston who passed in February. Houston had been trying to get Sparkle made since 2001, and was a producer on the project as well. The men of the cast recently discussed working with "a legend" like Houston, and the women of the cast — Jordin Sparks, Tika Sumpter, Carmen Ejogo — expressed similar feelings when they spoke to Hollywood Dailies.
"Whitney's a given," said Sumpter when asked what she will remember most about the movie. "We've looked up to her our whole lives." Houston, meanwhile, clearly enjoyed working with the three young actresses, who all play sisters trying to make a name for themselves in the music business. During a Sparkle set visit, Houston revealed that she had very motherly feelings about her castmates.
I have really come to be like their mother in a sense. I give mom hugs on the set, you know. They were just perfect for this project. Just absolutely perfect.
The ReelzChannel Special Sparkle: A Tribute premieres Friday, August 17 at 11PM ET/ 8PM PT. Encores will air Friday through Wednesday; see schedule for details.
More on Whitney's last movie role Friday 11:00p ET / 8:00p PT