What does one do on the morning of the Academy Award nominations? Wake up early? Try to sleep in? Wait for your publicist to call?
Having returned home late from a friendโs dinner the night before, Kate Hudson debated the best course of action ahead of last monthโs nominations โ before deciding she needed to wake up and hear the news either way.
โItโs been such a ride,โ she says. โI wanted to be able to go back to sleep knowing that this part is over. Or I wanted to just wake up and celebrate and be tired. You prepare yourself for everything. But you just feel completely unprepared for when your name is called.โ
Hudsonโs lead actress Oscar nomination for her turn as Claire Sardina in โSong Sung Blueโ is the culmination of an incredible awards season, in which sheโs also been nominated for a Golden Globe, an Actor Award and a BAFTA. Based on a true story, the movie follows Claire and her husband, Mike (Hugh Jackman), who headlined the popular Milwaukee-based Neil Diamond cover band Lightning & Thunder in the 1980s and โ90s.
Hudson with Hugh Jackman in โSong Sung Blue.โ
(Sarah Shatz / Focus Features)
The honor comes 25 years after Hudson received her first and only previous Oscar nod for playing Penny Lane in her breakthrough role in โAlmost Famous.โ And although sheโs had a slew of successes in the interim โ including the now-classic rom-com โHow to Lose a Guy in 10 Daysโ and other hit movies; Netflixโs Lakers-inspired comedy series โRunning Point,โ currently in postproduction on its second season; and the popular podcast โSibling Revelry,โ which she hosts with brother Oliver Hudson โ it can sometimes seem that weโve underappreciated, and perhaps underestimated, Kate Hudson.
But for her, being recognized for โSong Sung Blueโ isnโt some long-awaited vindication. As always, itโs about the work.
โWhen youโre acting, all you want to do are the things that stretch you, that are exciting,โ she says. โYou have these opportunities that come, and they donโt come very often, and so you get excited by that process. I donโt think you look from the outside in and say, โI always knew I could do this.โ Itโs more, my drive is to continue doing this. Itโs more, when you look into a horizon and youโre like, โOh, that looks interesting. I wonder what thatโs gonna be?โ versus, โIโm gonna do that and Iโm gonna be good at that.โโ
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So the most rewarding part of the movie is not the possibility of adding trophies to her decor, but rather how complex and layered Claire is, who during the course of the movie survives a tragic accident. The role provided Hudson with โso many wonderful things to soak in and perform.โ
โThere was no one note,โ she says of her onscreen alter ego. โThere were 10. Everything mattered. The process was really extensive, which is something that I long to do all the time. But it doesnโt happen very often that you get to play so many different things in one movie. Thatโs our drug as an artist. It mattered that I got this right. There was a personal stake attached to it for me, which was not wanting to let Claire down and wanting to honor her life experience.โ
While much of the industry has transformed in the 25 years between Hudsonโs Oscar nominations, much has also stayed the same. โIt hasnโt changed so drastically that it feels like itโs a different world,โ she says. โThe soul of our industry is very present. I was talking about this with Ethan Hawke [who is nominated for his turn in โBlue Moonโ]. Weโve been having so much fun with this. We love it. And itโs nice when youโve been doing it for so long and then youโre in the conversation and you still just love it and enjoy it.โ
โI see where I had the opportunity and where that privilege comes from,โ Hudson says of her Hollywood pedigree. โBut I also donโt discount how much work needs to go into getting to where [I am]. It doesnโt just happen. Itโs something you have to create.โ (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Did she have a hint when filming โSong Sung Blueโ that it could become a career-defining moment for her? โI donโt ever get that far outside of myself,โ she says. โThe goal is really just to make the best version of something that you love, and then walk away from it and hope that youโve created something that ends up translating.โ
โSong Sung Blueโ also marked the first time, since becoming a mother, that she was able to leave her children for an extended period to film a movie. โI feel so lucky right now. My kids are a bit older and I can really get into my creative space,โ she says, before adding with a laugh, โI donโt have any more strollers in my house. Itโs a whole new world.โ
As is her nature, Hudson talks openly and honestly about how being a mother has intertwined with her career. โMothering doesnโt stop,โ she says. โI remember being in a meeting with my dad. Within this meeting I had two phone calls, one from the school and one from someone else asking me a question about my kids. And I had to take these calls because Iโm the epicenter. And my dad looked at me and he goes, โI donโt know what thatโs like.โ I loved that he said that. He was so proud. And also like, โWow, I wouldnโt know what that is, as a man.โโ
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Being able to celebrate this moment with her family, including her parents Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, is the โcherry on topโ to the entire awards season for Hudson. There are not that many mother-daughter pairs who can both boast Oscar nods. โI honor that so deeply,โ she says. โMy momโs 80 years old. Sheโs had a phenomenal career. Sheโs my No. 1 best friend in the world. Even though Iโve had a different type of career and weโre very different actresses, thatโs my mommy and I learned from her first. So thereโs something about being in the same industry and being able to celebrate each other in these moments that becomes even more meaningful because itโs understood differently.โ
Hudson has never shied away from being the daughter of famous parents. โTo pretend thatโs not a huge part of my life would be dishonest,โ she says. โIt would be irresponsible to say that there isnโt an opportunity that comes from growing up in this town. The difference is if you take it for granted or if you honor it. I see where I had the opportunity and where that privilege comes from. But I also donโt discount how much work needs to go into getting to where [I am]. It doesnโt just happen. Itโs something you have to create.โ
She particularly credits her parents with the work ethic they instilled in her from a young age to have respect for the craft and the job. โYou donโt just show up and think youโre gonna become an actor. You have to take it seriously. My dad always said put your head down and you just do the work. You just just keep plugging away.โ
That perspective also helps her see this experience as having a bigger purpose than just her nomination. โIt really feels special to be a part of the community this year thatโs talking about the importance of celebrating cinema in the theater and how much we need to be saving this industry and nurturing it,โ she says. โWe have to protect it or else we lose the art form.โ
After the hubbub abates, Hudson says the hardest part will be knowing that it will be time to say goodbye to the character and the movie. โItโs the saddest goodbye because you really love a character, and then that moment marks the real letting go of that experience,โ she says. โItโs really like sending your kids to college. Youโre like, well, now it just lives. It lives without me having to support it. That makes it really emotional. Win or lose, you know?โ
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)