Beyonce Knowles lived on a diet of water with cayenne pepper to lose weight for her role in movie "Dreamgirls." The 24-year-old star lost 20 pounds to play the super-svelte Deena Jones, the lead singer of The Dreamettes - a 1960s-style group loosely based on Diana Ross And The Supremes.

She explains, "At the beginning (of filming), I was my normal weight. I actually gained a little bit, but then I lost 20 lbs. when I went from young Deena to old Deena. I wanted it to be something more than just make-up and hair. I wanted to see the change."

The star tried to emulate the weight loss actor Tom Hanks endured for his film Cast Away. She explains, "I tried to do it Tom Hanks style, and I literally fasted because I had to drop it really fast in the film. It was a sacrifice. Definitely a sacrifice and it was difficult on the set. Everyone was eating cookies and I'm drinking, literally, water and cayenne pepper. But it worked."

The singer's mother, Tina, was relieved her daughter put weight back on following the shoot. She adds, "I've actually consciously and purposely gained a little back because I was too thin."

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)