Oscar-nominated actor Kate Hudson spoke openly about reinventing her career, dealing with industry typecasting, and being told she was “too old” to begin a music career. She shared these thoughts during a special tribute at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Kate Hudson, who is currently nominated for an Oscar for her role in Song Sung Blue, was honoured with the Arlington Artist of the Year Award at the festival’s closing event.
Kate Hudson Recalls Early Fame and Her First Oscar Nomination
Kate Hudson said about her breakout role in Almost Famous, and the success that followed early in her career.
She revisited the 2001 Academy Awards, where she received her first Oscar nomination for Almost Famous, and recalled a moment involving her father and 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.’”
Kate Hudson said the moment helped her stay grounded and understand how quickly awards attention can fade.
Kate Hudson on Being Typecast as a Romantic Comedy Star
After her early success, Kate Hudson became one of Hollywood’s most familiar romantic comedy faces. She starred in popular films such as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Bride Wars, Something Borrowed, and Fool’s Gold.
She described romantic comedy as “one of the hardest genres to get right,” but admitted that the industry strongly linked her to those roles.
“It was clear that that’s where the industry liked to hire me,” Kate Hudson said. She explained that advice from her team and financial realities also shaped her career choices.
As a single mother, she said some roles provided stability. Over time, however, she felt the urge to move beyond the genre.
“I really want to be doing something different,” she said, noting that filmmakers often struggle to see actors outside the roles that made them famous.
Kate Hudson on Being Told She Was ‘Too Old’ for Music
Kate Hudson’s wish to try something new extended to music. In 2024, she released her debut album Glorious, fulfilling a long-held dream.
She revealed that in her 30s, she was told she was “kind of too old” to launch a music career. While she understood the industry’s viewpoint, the comment stayed with her.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kate Hudson decided to move forward anyway. “I will just regret it if I don’t do it,” she recalled, adding that she was surprised and deeply touched by the positive response to the album.
Kate Hudson Says This Is the Beginning of a New Chapter
With a second Oscar nomination now to her name, Kate Hudson suggested that renewed awards attention could open doors to more challenging roles. Still, she stressed that recognition is not her ultimate goal.
“I want to do it to put people in the theater too,” she said, describing the moment as “the beginning” of a new chapter.
The tribute ended with Gwyneth Paltrow presenting Kate Hudson with the Arlington Artist of the Year Award. Praising her longtime friend, Paltrow said that after watching Song Sung Blue, she felt Hudson had finally found a role that showed the full range of her talent.
