In November 2005, Hudson was cast in the role of Effie White for the film adaptation of the musical "Dreamgirls", which also starred Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles and Eddie Murphy. The role marked Hudson's debut screen performance. She won the role over hundreds of professional singers and actresses, including Fantasia Barrino. Filming of "Dreamgirls" began on January 9, 2006, and the film went into limited release on December 25, 2006, and national release on January 12, 2007. Hudson has won particular praise for her show-stopping onscreen rendition of the hit song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", the signature song of the role, which had earlier been recorded, and had already reached the status of musical standard, because of the definitive performance of Jennifer Holliday. "The New York Observer" described Hudson's performance of the song as "five mellifluous, "molto vibrato" minutes that have suddenly catapulted Ms. Hudson... into the position of front-runner for the best supporting actress Oscar". "Newsweek" said that when moviegoers hear Hudson sing the song, she, "is going to raise goose bumps across the land." "Variety" magazine wrote that Hudson's performance "calls to mind debuts like Barbra Streisand in "Funny Girl" or Bette Midler in "The Rose", with a voice like the young Aretha".