Jennifer Hudson Used Rejection to Drive Dreamgirls Performance  1/6/07

Jennifer Hudson used her feelings of rejection after being voted off reality talent competition American Idol to help her land one of the lead roles in the film Dreamgirls.

Hudson insists she doesn't feel any animosity towards judge Simon Cowell, who criticized her during the competition in 2004 saying she was "out of her depth."

Cowell has since admitted he was wrong about Hudson, with Hudson now refusing to rub her newfound success in his face.

She explains, "It's not about that for me. Right now I'm just trying to enjoy the blessing that God has given me and live in the moment for what it is.

"I don't believe in looking back, that's in the past. It's part of my history and I'm proud of it. But, hey, I took it as a lesson and I've moved on.

"I have never experienced anything to the extent of what Effie (her character in the film) went through, but everybody has been rejected. That was my closest rejection so I used that!"