Portrayed the role of Effie Melody White in the original musical
version of "Dreamgirls", giving one of the most triumphant singing
performances ever committed to Broadway. Her raw, all-consuming vocal
version of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" made the Tony-winning
performer a cult phenomenon.
Twenty years ago when I was in 'Dreamgirls,' I was always a joke because I was huge. I went out once to a birthday gathering for me, and the New York Post wrote that I had broken the chair because I was so big. Well, I didn't break the chair; it was just really wobbly. But the humiliation was terrible." "Even after I lost weight, I was still the same person.
