By Neil Smith Entertainment reporter, BBC News

Knowles and Hudson play members of an all-girl group Film clip

Speaking in London after the film's UK premiere, however, the former American Idol finalist played down her chances of winning.

"For the most part I try not to think about it," the 25-year-old American told the BBC News website.

"It's an honour just to be a part of the awards season, so just to hear my name mentioned is enough for me."

Based on the Tony award-winning musical, Dreamgirls is up for eight Oscars in all and is the most nominated film at this year's awards.

Surprisingly, though, the film was omitted from the best picture line-up and did not receive nominations for its direction or screenplay.

That is bad news for writer-director Bill Condon, though the stoicism he displayed ahead of Tuesday's announcement suggests he will be able to handle the slight.

"I've learned not to have any expectations because then you are not disappointed," he told the BBC News website.

'Highly fictionalised'

Set in the 1960s and '70s, the film follows the fortunes of an all-girl singing group called the Dreams who are steered to fame by an opportunistic music producer.

Adapted from the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, the story is loosely based on the real-life history of Diana Ross and the Supremes.

Hudson appeared on TV talent show American Idol in 2004 Film clip

Ross recently joked that she would be watching the film with her lawyers, though Condon insists she has nothing to worry about.

"Dreamgirls was always a highly fictionalised version of real events," he said.

"It isn't her life, but it is a tribute to her as an icon and a pioneer. I hope she takes it in that spirit."

Hudson's character of Effie White - a strong-willed diva who is eventually expelled from the Dreams - has been compared to Florence Ballard, the Supremes' original lead singer.

Hudson, however, says she drew on a number of artists in order to play the role.

"Florence was definitely one of the people I looked at," she told reporters.

"But I feel Effie's story is a bit of everybody's story in the industry.

Real-life comparisons

"I looked at Aretha [Franklin] and Whitney [Houston] and Jennifer Holliday, who played Effie in the original Broadway production," she continued.

"I tried to pay tribute to all the great female vocalists in every song I did."

The singing trio in Dreamgirls is loosely based on the Supremes

The casting of former Destiny's Child singer Beyonce Knowles has led to further comparisons to her own pop career.

Condon admits that experience may have helped Knowles play the role of Deena Jones, the backing singer who emerges as the Dreams' leading light.

"I wasn't trying to make those connections, and it certainly wasn't why she got the part," he told the BBC News website.

"But because she knows so much about this world and the music business, she could draw on those things."

Unlike co-stars Hudson and Eddie Murphy, Knowles has not been nominated for an Oscar for her performance.

However, the 25-year-old faced stiff competition from British dames Helen Mirren and Judi Dench and has acknowledged she was an outsider at best.

"I really want an Oscar one day, but I know I have a lot more movies to make," she said.

"It feels great to be associated with anything that has any kind of Oscar buzz."