Top > Entertainment > 2007 > March > 2007-03-22

Hudson and Whitaker Replay Oscar`s Winnings

Just days after capturing the Oscars, Forest Whitaker and Jennifer Hudson were also the happy winners at the 38th annual NAACP Image Awards. Hudson, who was first discovered at ?American Idol?, ended up winning the best supporting actress award for her role in ?Dreamgirls?, just like she did at the Academy Awards. Exactly the same happened with Whitaker, who took away the best actor award for his charismatic performance in ?The last king of Scotland?. In other prizes, ?The Pursuit of Happiness" starring Will Smith and his son, won best picture honors, Keke Palmer won the best actress for "Akeelah and the Bee," and Djimon Hounsou took best supporting actor for "Blood Diamond?. In the Television section, ?Gray?s Anatomy? star Isaiah Washington, took the best actor award, while Vanessa Williams claimed the best supporting actress in a comedy for ?Ugly Betty?

?There is nothing like being recognized and honored by your own," said Hudson minutes after the announcement. Whitaker, who plays an Ugandan dictator in the film, also sounded really happy: ?This role gave me so many blessings, and the fact that I had the chance to go back to Africa and touch my roots is amazing?.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) holds the awards each year to honor achievements and performances by people of color in the arts and those who promote social justice. It is considered nowadays one of the oldest and most influential civil rights organizations in the United States, and it has been working since 1909.