Kate Hudson Reveals Her ‘Song Sung Blue’ Character’s Strength and Struggles

The actress has been nominated for a Golden Globe and an Actor Award for her role in the film.

Kate Hudsoncouldn’t believe her eyes as she flipped through the pages of theSong Sung Blue script.

“I was thinking, there’s no way this is a real [story], this has actually occurred. And everything that happened to them seems almost unbelievable,” says the Golden Globe and Actor Award nominee on the latest episode ofThe Awardistpodcast featuring Mike and Claire Sardina, who she andHugh Jackman portray in writer-director Craig Brewermovie (now in theaters). ‘You couldn’t possibly write a fictional script about it. So my first question to Craig was, ‘Is this all true? Did you add anything?’

Certainly, that wasn’t the initial thought she had when she came across the story of the Wisconsin couple, who began theNeil Diamondsupporting band, Lightning & Thunder.

My initial thought was, I hope they truly want me to take on this role. What I mean is, I haven’t been able to experience all of this in a single film,” she says. “It’s absolutely amazing. Her story is extraordinary.

Not only is Hudson able to sing — a talent she has demonstrated somewhat through roles in the movie-musicalNineand on the television seriesGlee— but the story also allowed her to demonstrate a relationship in later life with Mike, as they both work towards their musical aspirations. However, this working-class couple faces its own difficulties: Mike has a heart condition he keeps hidden from those around him; and Claire is involved in a terrible accident that halts her music career and results in depression and reliance on painkillers.

This family has endured a lot. But taking on such a role is exciting for an actor,” Hudson states. “That’s somewhat why we enjoy the challenge of stepping into characters that are so complex, offering so much for us to explore. There are various interpretations, but this one was like, wow, you get to experience the full range.

Although it isn’t her first collaboration with Jackman, this is the first time that audiences have witnessed them working together. The two participated in a workshop for a musical that “never made it to Broadway,” she mentions, although they did get the chance to perform together. Nevertheless, she states that the two didn’t really know each other before starting the project.Song Sung Blue, but she felt the movie “depends on our connection, on our chemistry, and if you believe us as this couple.”

They encountered no issues in that area. Actually, for their first scene where they performed together as Mike and Claire, Hudson acknowledges that they experienced something unique.

It sounded strange to say yes, as if we had known something, but it was truly amazing,” she says about the scene at Claire’s house where they perform “Cherry Cherry” and “I’m a Believer.” “Those were mostly live takes, so our vocals were very much in the moment. It felt like we were in our comfort zone, which is always a great feeling. But it kind of felt that way throughout the entire movie. I believe Hugh and I really grasped these characters and understood what motivated them, and we could connect with that. At the same time, we truly loved this story about these people. So we felt a responsibility to do it justice.

She added, “There was an element between Hugh and me that was functioning well. It felt as though it was working, and it made the more difficult parts and scenes truly enjoyable, because there was a lot of freedom and openness between us. I never had the sense that I couldn’t make errors or be unreserved or push further into something, and perhaps him not being there to respond in kind.”

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Hudson was fortunate to meet the actual Claire Sardina, who came to the set — “everyone on the crew showed up and cheered for her, and she started crying while everyone applauded,” Hudson remembers. However, she mentions that there are still elements of her character that, although not included in Brewer’s script, were crucial for her to express in her performance.

One aspect of Claire that was crucial for me to portray accurately is her determination to push through challenges. She’s a true fighter, highly resilient, but she definitely faces struggles,” Hudson explains. “Throughout her life, she’s had to fight to maintain an optimistic outlook. Although we didn’t make this a central plot point, it’s always been her ongoing battle. For me, it was essential to establish this before delving into more difficult moments—she keeps pushing forward despite what she’s going through, but eventually, she can’t anymore, as that’s her way of surviving.”

Listen to Hudson’s complete interview onThe Awardist, below, where she discusses why she sees herself as a character actor and hopes this role leads to more opportunitiesroles in which she undergoes a transformation, and she clarifies her work on Home Alone 2and reflects on her work inNineand collaborating with Daniel Day-Lewis.

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