More Than 'Almost Famous'

The movie "Almost Famous" garnered actress Kate Hudson an Academy award nomination and made her a star almost two years ago.

The film she chose to follow up that breakthrough performance is the epic period drama "The Four Feathers."

The movie centers on Harry Feversham (Heath Ledger), a British soldier engaged to Ethne (Kate Hudson) in the 1880s. Harry has a promising future in the military, but it turns to shame when his regiment is called to duty in North Africa. Overwhelmed with self-doubt and uncertainty, Harry abandons the regiment. But, he goes on a mission of selflessness when he learns his best friend Jack (Wes Bentley) and his former regiment have fallen under brutal attack by rebels.

Hudson's character's undying passion for Harry is complicated by his decision not to go to war. Hudson says her character is torn between public scrutiny and love.

Hudson explained to The Early Show that the story and the idea of working with Shekhar Kapur, the director of the Academy Award-winning "Elizabeth," made her want to be a part of "The Four Feathers."

What's next for Hudson? The actress has completed filming the Merchant/Ivory film comedy "Le Divorce" with Naomi Watts, Glenn Close, Stockard Channing, and Leslie Caron. She is currently filming "How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days" with Matthew McConaughey in New York. Her next project will be "Loosely Based On A True Love Story" opposite Luke Wilson for director Rob Reiner.

Hudson is also a principal in Cosmic Entertainment, a production entity comprised of her own banner, Birdie Productions, as well as the production companies of Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell and Oliver Hudson. The company is actively producing and developing more than a dozen projects for film and television.

Fast Facts About Kate Hudson

• Kate Garry Hudson was born to Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson in April 19, 1979.
  
  
• Bill Hudson rarely had contact with daughter after his divorce from Hawn in 1980.
  
  
• Kurt Russell is Hudson's step-father.
  
  
• Kate Hudson brother is actor Oliver Hudson.
  
  
• Her husband is musician Chris Robinson — formerly the lead singer of the rock group Black Crowes. They married on Dec. 31, 2000, in Colorado.
  
  
• In 1996, she was a guest star on the Fox TV drama "Party of Five."
  
  
• Hudson modeled for a Tommy Jeans ad campaign in 1997.
  
  
• Hudson was featured in 1999 as part of an ensemble cast of big name young stars in the 1980s period comedy "200 Cigarettes"; Starred opposite Brendan Sexton III in the drama "Desert Blue."
  
  
• In 2000, She appeared in the college campus-set psychological thriller "Gossip" along with Joshua Jackson and James Marsden.
  
  
• Starred opposite Stuart Townsend in the Irish comedy "About Adam," which was released in 2001.
  
  
• In 2000, Hudson won Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe and garnered a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for role of Penny Lane, a young girl who travels with rock bands in "Almost Famous."
  
  
• Also in 2000, Hudson played Richard Gere's spoiled daughter in "Dr. T and the Women," directed by Robert Altman. The film also starred Helen Hunt, Farrah Fawcett, Laura Dern, and Tara Reid.