Kate Hudson is eagerly anticipating a shift towards more diverse acting opportunities following her Oscar nomination for the biographical musical drama Song Sung Blue. The 46-year-old actress, long typecast in romantic comedies despite an earlier Oscar nomination for her breakout role in Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous, is now actively seeking to break out of the genre that defined her career for decades.
Breaking Free from Typecasting
Hudson's fluffy box office hits, such as Bride Wars and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, cemented her status as a rom-com queen, but she admits the industry pigeonholed her. "It was clear that that’s where the industry liked to hire me, and then my goal, my hope, was to make the best versions of those," she told The Hollywood Reporter. "I was starting to be like, 'I really want to be doing something different.' And I think when you become really famous doing that genre, it’s hard for certain filmmakers to see you in anything other than what we’re watching."
She expressed frustration with perceptions that limit her range, noting, "These sort of things that like, 'Well, transforming isn’t what she does' when, in fact, it’s what I love to do." Hudson also candidly revealed that financial motivations played a role in some of her rom-com choices, as she was "a single mom" offered "a lot of money."
A New Direction in Her Career
In December, Hudson told Entertainment Weekly she was steering her career in a "different" direction after years of romantic comedy roles. "I think over the years, I've learned, I love doing comedy. I love a good rom-com, but it's hard to make a good one, so you've got to say no a lot," she explained. "I really just wanted to start working with really interesting filmmakers and make different choices. It makes me happy."
She highlighted lesser-known roles as her favorites, such as in Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, which provided fulfilling experiences despite limited viewership.
Oscar-Nominated Role in Song Sung Blue
Song Sung Blue, written, produced, and directed by Craig Brewer of the 2011 Footloose remake fame, is based on the true story of married couple Mike and Claire Sardina, who formed the Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning and Thunder. Hudson portrays Claire in the film, earning her a Best Actress Oscar nomination, while Hugh Jackman plays Mike. The pair, both with music industry success, perform all the songs in the movie.
Expanding Horizons in Music and Television
Beyond acting, Hudson has been advancing her music career, releasing her album Glorious in 2024 and serving as an advisor on Adam Levine's team on The Voice last year. Currently, she stars as the lead in Netflix's sports comedy series Running Point, showcasing her versatility across mediums.
Career Trajectory and Legacy
Hudson rose to fame as rock 'n' roll groupie Penny Lane in Almost Famous, which earned her first Oscar nomination. Throughout the 2000s, she became a Hollywood staple in romantic comedies with roles in films like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Le Divorce, Bride Wars, Something Borrowed, and Fool's Gold. Now, with her second Oscar nomination for Song Sung Blue, she is poised to redefine her artistic path and embrace more varied acting challenges.
