It's been less than a month. But what a month it has been for Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson.

The two stars of the immensely riveting Dreamgirls earned the best-supporting actor honors at the Screen Actors Guild Awards Sunday evening. Both have to hope that the latest recognition translates to the biggest prize, an Oscar as well.

The rise of these two black performers could not have been more contrasting. Murphy owns an extensive career as a comic actor and is considered a household name in Hollywood. Still, critical awards had not been part of the Murphy personna until his role in Dreamgirls. Murphy now has already collected a Golden Globe for his performance, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and of course has been nominated for the big prize, an Oscar.

For Hudson, it has been nothing short of a mercurial rise. An American Idol contestant just two years, Hudson is still an unknown in most parts. However, the youngster offers a tremendous set of pipes and seems to have been born to play the role of Effie White in the much-recognized film. She has matched Murphy step for step during the award season.

"Dreamgirls" also features Jamie Foxx and Beyonce Knowles. The film garnered eight Oscar nominations but none for Best Picture. Though it was nominated for best ensemble cast at the Guild Awards, the film again came up empty in the best film category.