Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson has thanked Simon Cowell for sending her a good luck message before Sunday's Academy Awards.

Hudson was a contestant on American Idol in 2004, where Cowell repeatedly remarked that she was out of her depth, but her role in movie musical Dreamgirls landed her a Best Supporting Actress gong at last week's Oscars.

Hudson said: "It feels good. Thank you Simon, he left me a really sweet message."