Eddie Murphy recalls Jennifer Hudson’s awkward moment on 'Dreamgirls' set and Beyoncé’s quick help

Eddie Murphy has shared a story about Beyoncé from the making of Dreamgirls that he says he has never told before.

Speaking on 360 With Speedy, the actor reflected on a candid exchange he witnessed between Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson on set.

“I did Dreamgirls right when I was getting divorced,” said Murphy, referring to his split from Nicole Murphy in 2005 after 12 years of marriage. “I was kind of like on automatic pilot, and I don’t remember a lot of making the movie.”

The 2006 film, based on the 1981 Broadway musical, starred Murphy alongside Beyoncé, Hudson, Anika Noni Rose, Jamie Foxx and Danny Glover. Hudson played Effie White, Beyoncé played Deena Jones, and Rose played Lorrell Robinson.

Recalling his memory, Murphy said: “My Beyoncé memory — and neither one of them knows that I know this — I watched Jennifer Hudson and Beyoncé, they were in between shots, they were on stage, and Jennifer was new in show business and she had, I guess a finger, right between, was ashy, and she was licking her fingers and getting the ash like that.”

Murphy added that Beyoncé immediately stepped in, saying: “Ooh girl, don’t do that. I’ll get you some cream.”

He said the moment passed quietly between them, but he noticed it. “And this might be the first time I share that with anyone. That’s my Beyoncé memory.”

Hudson went on to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at the 79th Academy Awards in 2007 for her role in the film, which was nominated for eight Oscars in total.