Kate Hudson Reflects On Being The “Rom-Com Queen” And Exploring New Roles In Acting And Music

March 8, 2025: Hollywood star Kate Hudson, best known for her iconic roles in romantic comedies like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, You, Me and Dupree, and Bride Wars, expressed her gratitude for the title of “rom-com queen.” However, she also shared her desire to branch out and explore more diverse roles as an actor.

Speaking on the Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce podcast to promote her upcoming film Running Point, Hudson admitted that while she appreciates the recognition, she feels a mixed sense of attachment to her rom-com legacy. “It’s a mixed feeling because — now that I’m older I love it,” she said, acknowledging the success and warmth of the rom-com genre but also sharing her yearning for more varied roles. “What happens when you have a very successful rom-com, it sort of becomes what people expect from you and want from you, and as an actor you’re sort of like, ‘Yeah, but I want to do a million different things,'” she reflected.

Hudson first shot to fame with her role as Penny Lane in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous (2000), a performance that won her a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress and earned her an Oscar nomination in the same category. Following this, Hudson became the face of romantic comedies in the 2000s, with hits that defined her career, such as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Bride Wars. Yet, as her success in this genre grew, Hudson began to feel the limitations of being typecast.

“As Hollywood goes, they love to put you in a box. They love it. And so I think when you’re younger, you don’t want to be pigeonholed into an idea that that’s what you do,” she explained. “And the second you have success in a rom-com as a woman, it’s like they just want you in that,” Hudson said. “So it’s like you love it, and then at the same time you’re like, ‘Yeah, but I want to do other things. I don’t want to just do this all the time.'”

Despite the confines of being labeled as the queen of rom-coms, Hudson never let it restrict her creative aspirations. She pursued music, releasing her debut album Glorious in 2024, showcasing her talents beyond acting. “Pursuing music took a very far back seat to what was happening in my career,” she explained, adding that she hadn’t actively pursued it until later in life.

Hudson’s new role in Running Point, streaming on Netflix, is a departure from her usual romantic roles. She plays Isla Gordon, the newly appointed president of the Los Angeles Waves basketball franchise, who is thrust into a leadership role after a scandal forces her brother (played by Justin Theroux) to resign. Hudson was drawn to the role because the character’s storyline did not revolve around romance. “It’s not just all about romance,” she said. “The lack of emphasis on Isla’s love life was one of the big things for me that convinced me to join the series,” she shared.

Through this new project, Hudson continues to challenge herself and broaden her acting range, proving that she is more than just a rom-com lead. With the release of Running Point and her music career taking off, Hudson is determined to show the world the many layers of her creative talents.