It was while watching an episode of the '90s Will Smith sitcom that she first heard "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," Dreamgirls’ signature song. "Will was lip-synching to it, and I was like, 'Who is that singing? I have to sing that song.' I never would have guessed. . . ."

"[After filming, costar] Jamie Foxx would call me every Sunday and say 'I’ve been down the same road you’re going down.' And I’d say, 'Me? No way.' And he’d say, 'Yeah, you’re gonna be there—the Golden Globes, the Oscars.' It’s so great to have somebody to lean on when things are changing so fast. He's my lifesaver."