Beyonce loses booty

Music

13:30 22 May 2006

Beyonce Knowles lost 20 pounds for her role in new musical, 'Dreamgirls'.

The curvy star felt the massive weight loss was the only to way to make her character 60s pop singer Deena Jones more convincing.

She confessed while promoting the movie at the Cannes Film Festival: "It was my idea. At the beginning of filming, I was my normal weight.

"I actually gained a little bit, but then I lost 20 lbs. when I went from young Deena to old Deena.

"I wanted it to be something more than just make-up and hair. I wanted to see the change."

However, Knowles, 24, said the film's director - Bill Condon - was worried she might be harming herself.

She revealed: "He kept telling me to eat. But I really wanted to go all the way. I was inspired by Tom Hanks.

"He lost all that weight for 'Castaway'."

'Dreamgirls' tells the story of Deena Jones, the lead singer of the Dreamettes - a '60s-style group loosely modelled on Diana Ross and the Supremes.

The movie - which is based on the award-winning 1981 Broadway musical - is due to be released at the end of the year.

(C) BANG Media International