Washington, Feb 16 (.) Oscar nominee Kate Hudson opened up about reinvention, industry typecasting and being told she was “too old” to pursue music, during a tribute at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Hudson, currently nominated for her performance in ‘Song Sung Blue’, was presented with the Arlington Artist of the Year Award at the festival’s closing tribute. In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, she reflected on her Hollywood upbringing, her breakout role in Almost Famous, and the rapid rise that followed.
Looking back at the 2001 Academy Awards, where she received her first Oscar nomination for Almost Famous, Hudson recalled a grounding moment shared with her father and longtime family friend Kurt Russell.
“I lost, and everything happened so fast,” she said. “My dad just turned to me, he was down a couple, and Kurt just goes, ‘Congratulations, now you can go have a career.’”
She described the comment as a reminder of how fleeting awards recognition can be. Hudson went on to become one of Hollywood’s most bankable romantic comedy stars, leading films such as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Bride Wars, Something Borrowed and Fool’s Gold.
While she called romantic comedy “one of the hardest genres to get right,” she acknowledged that the industry largely defined her within that space.
“It was clear that that’s where the industry liked to hire me,” she said, noting that financial security and advice from her team also shaped her choices. As a single mother, she added, certain projects provided stability. Eventually, however, she felt compelled to branch out.
“I really want to be doing something different,” Hudson said, pointing out how difficult it can be for filmmakers to see actors beyond the genre that first made them famous.
That drive for change extended to music. In 2024, she released her debut album, Glorious, fulfilling a long-held dream. Hudson revealed that in her 30s she had been told she was “kind of too old” to launch a music career, a comment that lingered with her. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to move forward anyway.
“I will just regret it if I don’t do it,” she recalled, adding that she was deeply moved by the warm reception the album received, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.
Now celebrating her second Oscar nomination, Hudson suggested that awards attention may open doors to more transformative roles. Still, she emphasized that accolades are not the ultimate goal.
“I want to do it to put people in the theater too,” she said, describing this phase of her career as “the beginning” of a new chapter.
The evening concluded with Gwyneth Paltrow presenting Hudson with the Arlington Artist of the Year Award. Praising her longtime friend, Paltrow said that after watching Song Sung Blue, she believed Hudson had finally found a role that fully showcased the depth and range of her talent.
. MI ARN