Jennifer Hudson: I`d love to play Aretha Franklin

The Oscar-winning singer-turned-actress makes her comments in the latest issue of JET magazine.

Hudson, 29, says: 'I would be honoured. I would love to play that role.'

At the moment though she is promoting her upcoming movie about the life of Winnie Mandela, the ex-wife of former South African president, Nelson Mandela.

Hudson says that it has been an honour to play the controversial political activist.

She says: 'To step into such huge shoes as Winnie Mandela and tell her story, her journey and the contributions that she gave to the world, to us was an amazing experience.'

The Dreamgirls star - who recently lost 80lbs (5st 10lbs) - says she partly shed the weight to play the starring role in Winnie.

She says: 'When I arrived in South Africa they [the film's producers] said, 'Wow, you are pretty thin'. And I said, 'This is what you told me to do'.'

She says she does not want to lose any more weight and is happy with her current size (UK 8).