Kate Hudson Reveals ‘Song Sung Blue’ Character’s Strength and Struggles

A Journey Through the Story of "Song Sung Blue"

Kate Hudson, a Golden Globe and Actor Award nominee, recently shared her experience working on the film Song Sung Blue, where she portrays Claire Sardina, a real-life character who, along with her husband Mike, founded a Neil Diamond tribute band called Lightning & Thunder. The movie, directed by Craig Brewer, is based on the true story of the couple’s life challenges and their passion for music.

Hudson described her initial reaction to reading the script as one of disbelief. “I was like, there’s no way this is a true story, this has happened. And all of the things that happened to them feel almost impossible,” she said during an interview on The Awardist podcast. She even asked Brewer if the events in the script were entirely true or if any parts had been embellished.

Her first thought wasn’t about the authenticity of the story, but rather about whether the couple would want her to play the role. “I hope they’re going to really want me to play this part. Meaning, I haven’t been able to do any of this all in one movie,” she explained. “It is so amazing. Her story is incredible.”

In addition to showcasing her singing abilities—something she’s done in previous roles like Nine and Glee—the film also allowed her to explore a later-in-life relationship with Mike. However, the couple’s journey isn’t without its struggles. Mike faces a heart condition that he keeps hidden from those around him, while Claire suffers a traumatic accident that leads to depression and dependence on pain medication.

“This family has been through it. But playing a part like that is a thrill for an actor,” Hudson said. “That’s kind of why we love the challenge of getting inside of characters that are so full, that bring so much for us to be able to tackle. There’s certain versions of it that you get, but this one was like, wow, you get to run the spectrum.”

Working with Hugh Jackman

While this isn’t Hudson’s first time working with Hugh Jackman, it is the first time audiences have seen them together on screen. They previously participated in a workshop for a musical that never made it to Broadway, but they did sing together. Despite that, Hudson admitted they didn’t know each other well before making Song Sung Blue.

“[The movie] lives and dies on our connection, on our chemistry, and if you believe us as this couple,” she said. Their chemistry was evident from the very beginning. In their first scene together, where they perform “Cherry Cherry” and “I’m a Believer” in Claire’s house, Hudson felt something special happening.

“It sounds weird to say yes, it sounds like we knew something, but it did feel wonderful,” she said. “Those were pretty much live, so our vocals what we’re doing is pretty live. So it felt like we were in our pocket, and that’s always a good feeling. But it kind of felt that way throughout the movie. I think Hugh and I really understood these characters and really understood what drove them and could relate to it. And then at the same time, loved this story of these people. So then we felt that responsibility to get it right.”

Hudson also emphasized the strong connection she felt with Jackman during filming. “There was something going on with Hugh and I that was working. It felt like it worked, and it made the more challenging sequences and scenes wonderful, because there was so much freedom and openness with each other. I never felt in any way that I couldn’t make mistakes or be uninhibited or go far and go deeper into something and maybe him not being there to hit it back.”

Meeting the Real-Life Claire Sardina

One of the most meaningful aspects of Hudson’s performance was meeting the real Claire Sardina, who visited the set during filming. “The whole crew showed up and just cheered for her, and she cried and everybody clapped,” Hudson recalled. However, she also noted that some elements of Claire’s life weren’t included in the final script.

“One of the things about Claire that was so important for me to get right is that she fights so hard to choose to power through things. And she is a real fighter. She’s incredibly resilient, but she really does struggle,” Hudson said. “So her whole life, she’s had to fight to see the optimism. And even though we didn’t really use that as a storyline, that is her constant fight. And so for me, that was so important before we go into the darker places, that she’s still powering through what she’s experiencing – she just can’t anymore, because that’s her survival nature.”

Hudson’s full interview on The Awardist delves deeper into her thoughts on being a character actor, her hopes for future roles, and her experiences on projects like Home Alone 2, Nine, and working with Daniel Day-Lewis.