jennifer-hudson-passed-on-precious.jpgJennifer Hudson has revealed that she passed on the starring role in Precious because she didn't want to pack on the pounds!

In her new book, I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down, the 30-year-old singer/actress explains why she turned down the chance to play a character that might have earned her yet another Academy Award.

"I had [gained weight] with Effie [in Dreamgirls]," she writes (via Uptown Magazine, who snagged an excerpt from her novel). "And as much as I was moved by this film, I wanted to try a role that had nothing whatsoever to do with my weight." Adding that she didn't want to be pigeon-holed as the “big girl," Hudson's decision to pass on the role opened the doors for relatively unknown actress Gabourey Sidibe to take over, earning her an Oscar nod in 2009.

Over the years Hudson has dropped 80 pounds with the help of Weight Watchers, and she continues to serve as a spokeswoman for the company.