Jennifer Hudson: ‘Ignorant’ people think my white driver is the owner of my house

US actress Jennifer Hudson is an Oscar-winning star – but despite her success she still faces constant battles with racial prejudice.

Hudson, who is a judge on the upcoming series of The Voice UK, revealed air stewards often question her first class tickets, while “ignorant” people have mistaken her white driver to be the owner of her house.

Speaking to Cosmopolitan she said: “There have been several situations where I get on a plane and [the air steward] assumes that I’m [meant to be] in the back of the plane.

“That happens a lot. I’m like ‘No, my seat is up there [in first class], thank you’.”

She continued: “People also assume that my home belongs to my white driver, Charles. One time, I was having something moved into my house and they wanted to know where to put it.

“I said, ‘There’. [The removal man] just stood there. When Charles came in, he asked him, ‘So where would you like these things?’ Charles said: ‘She said she wanted it right there. You’re talking to the wrong person’.”

Hudson said despite defying “all the odds being African American, living in a wealthy neighbourhood and being a working mum” her success is still seen as “foreign” to “ignorant” people.

Hudson hit A-list stardom after picking up the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Effie White in 2006’s Dreamgirls.

Recalling the life-changing moment she said: “I went from being driven in my mumma’s car to being flown around the world in private jets.

“I had just dreamed of being a singer and suddenly I was an actress nominated for an Academy Award. Then to actually win the Oscar… what?”