In Craig Brewer’s Song Sung Blue, Mike Sardina (Hugh Jackman) meets Claire (Kate Hudson) and the two become Lightning and Thunder, a Neil Diamond tribute band. As they perform onstage and build a life together, their path to happiness is marred by multiple devastating tragedies.
Awards Buzz spoke to Hudson shortly after she received a SAG nomination for the role about what drew her to this part:
“There’s so many things. I feel like this part asks or would have asked of any actress to bring everything that they know to the table. If they perform and sing and have to go to all the places that you have to go to honor Claire’s life, it’s definitely a part that doesn’t come around very often. So for me, when I read it, I was like, ‘I hope they would even think of me for this movie.’ Then, I did go, ‘Did this really happen to her?’ It seems like such an insane series of events. And then I got into the documentary and I was like, whoa, and then I was like, ‘I’ve got to play this character! I really hope I get to play her.’ And then when Hugh saw me on a show and he wanted me to come do it, I was really excited. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to stretch myself and really create a character with all of those things that I get to bring to the table, so it was great.”
On similarities between her and Claire, she shared:
“Hmm. Not a lot of similarities between Claire and I, except that I think we both, the entertainer aspect, performing, the love of singing, the disappearing into music and song, I relate to the most with Claire. Also, she’s a family woman. Her family means everything to her and I can relate to that as well. Other than that, I think we’ve lived pretty different lives, and she’s led a very extraordinary, challenging life where she’s had to overcome so much. So, portraying that, I felt very protective of that. She’s been through so much and it was privilege to be able to do that.”
Watch the video above to hear how she’s feeling about earning her first major awards buzz in 25 years and how she looks back on the time since her breakout role in Almost Famous.
Song Sung Blue is currently playing in theaters.
