BWW Interview - Special 'Tracy Trifecta' Series: Ricki Lake Shares Fond HAIRSPRAY Memories

With NBC's HAIRSPRAY LIVE! on the horizon (Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT), BWW caught up with the 'Tracy Trifecta' - the three talented actresses who have taken on the iconic role of bright-eyed teenager Tracy Turnblad in various incarnations of the beloved musical.

Next up in our special series is Daytime Emmy Award winner Ricki Lake, who made her film debut as Tracy Turnblad in John Waters' 1988 cult-classic HAIRSPRAY. Today, Lake speaks exclusively to BWW about her fond memories from the film and explains why she believes Tracy should exist for every generation of young women.

In light of all that has transpired over the last few weeks, the story of HAIRSPRAY seems more significant than ever.

Yes it does. In the original film, what happened in 1962 Baltimore is so relevant today and it's a sad irony. And I think that is maybe why the story translates so well through all the different incarnations it has had over the years. It's still so, so relatable to people.

Can you share some of your memories of making the original film and did you have any idea that it would ultimately become such a hit?

Not only did I not have any idea, at the time I was making the film it just felt like summer camp. I was 18 at the time and I didn't even process that it would even come out in theaters! I was so green, I was so naive, I just took it as an amazing job that got me out of going back to college. It seemed like a very small baby step and once we made the film, I described it as the summer of my life. It was just the best time and I didn't know from any other experience. We didn't even have trailers back then, I was changing my clothes for the next scene in back alleys in Baltimore. There were no frills, but I didn't care, I didn't know any differently and I made a few thousands dollars, which was more money than I ever thought I'd ever make. And I was working with all these incredibly brilliant and weird people. You know I had never heard of John Waters, I didn't know about Divine, I had never even been around openly gay people before. I come from a very sheltered and very naive background, so it just rocked my world in every sense and opened every door for me.

Tracy really was me, that character was who I was at 18, and they basically just plopped me into 1962 Baltimore. Her essence, and her bright and shiny spirit was who I was back then, and I'm just so glad that our paths collided and that John Waters chose me to play this iconic role. And it gives me such pleasure that it's lived on through the years, it tickles me.

What was your first reaction when you heard the film was going to be adapted to a Broadway musical?

In the beginning, I have to admit, when Marissa played my part on Broadway it was a tough nut for me to swallow. I was really very protective of the role and the experience and I was like, 'how could this go on without me?' But now it's been many, many years, Marissa's a good friend of mine and I take great pride knowing that I was the one who created this character and that she's lived on and she's such a great role model for everyone, in particular young girls and young girls who don't fit in the tiny ingénue size. It's a really important character and she should exist for each generation.

Did you think it would translate well to the stage?

Yes I did. I knew Marc [Shaiman] and Scott [Wittman], I knew their track record, I knew it would be great. It's just an excellent Broadway musical, the score, the cast was incredible, the story and the way it was translated from the film into a Broadway musical I thought was just amazing, just so, so special. I remember when I first heard it was happening and I wanted to be able to play my part again and John Waters told me very directly, 'you're too old and you're not fat anymore', which was a back-handed compliment! And it was definitely bittersweet going to opening night on Broadway, but I've come to embrace all of the different incarnations. Sometimes John and I pinch ourselves and we look at each other and say, 'can you believe this is still going on?' None of us could have anticipated that this would have happened.

I had the pleasure of speaking with former Tracy Turnblads Marissa Jaret Winokur and Nikki Blonsky and they both spoke about what they called a 'Tracy Sisterhood.'

Yes, it really is. And Nikki did such an amazing job in the second movie. I was lucky enough to do a little cameo in it and I was on the soundtrack and they really do embrace me in all these subsequent productions, which is so nice. But yes, all of us have that special Tracy sparkle in us and it's a huge privilege and an honor to play this part along with these women.

Have you had the chance to meet HAIRSPRAY LIVE's Maddie Baillio?

Yes, I met Maddie at a press event recently and she's absolutely adorable. And I understand she has some pipes, I can't wait to hear her sing. She's definitely a little bit like a deer in the headlights and it's funny because the difference with these women, Marissa and Nikki and Maddie, is that they sort of know what to expect. I didn't know that I was going to become a star, I didn't know I was going to have a career that would last for thirty years, I just didn't know any differently - it all just unfolded as it happened. But for Maddie, she's going to be a household name from this, this is going to lead to every opportunity that she's ever dreamed of. It's very exciting for her. And the two of us have a very similar upbringing, we were both musical theater majors, she's twenty years old, I was eighteen when I did the film, so there are a lot of parallels.

Did you have any advice for her?

Yes, I did actually. I shared the best advice that I was ever given, which was given to me by John Waters before Hairspray came out, I believe it was in 1988. He sat me down and said, 'you're life is about to change and I want to give you some advice; a - always stay humble, b - always stay true to yourself and c - if you're going to read and believe the good things people write about you, you're going to have to read and believe the bad.' And I remember that verbatim and it has stayed with me my whole life. I've been around for a really long time and I think I've managed to keep my feet firmly on the ground and I try to stay humble and I really do try to take whatever is said about me with a grain of salt. John's been a real angel to me and a mentor and I was lucky enough to be his muse for a while and this experience changed the entire trajectory of my life and helped to form who I am today. So may Maddie be as fortunate as I have been in this crazy business over the years. Hairspray and Tracy Turnblad were the greatest gifts I could have gotten at that time in my life and I hope it turns out as great for her. I know it will.

Do you have a favorite scene from the show and/or the original film?

Well I love The Madison dance scene in the Corny Collins show from the original movie (check it out below!) I love that scene, I love the way Tracy just takes over the dance floor, catches the eye of the hot guy, it was just a fun scene to film. In the musical, I love 'Mamma I'm Big Girl Now' and I love 'I Can Hear the Bells.' There's just so many great numbers in it from start to finish, it's a pretty perfect musical in my eyes.

What do you hope will be the message that people take away from watching NBC's HAIRSPRAY LIVE?

Well I just think it's such a family, feel good experience, in any incarnation, and we all have a little bit of Tracy in us. We want to see the glass as half full and bring people together and accept people for all of their differences. And I think also for me, growing up and having the chance to see a lot of Broadway musicals when I was a little girl with my grandmother, it's so great that this kind of production can be seen in everyone's living room. For all those little awkward, chubby girls who want to be a star, who want to get up on a stage and have all eyes on them one day, this will be just a great thing for them to experience.

It's Madison time! Watch Ricki Lake's favorite scene from 1988's HAIRSPRAY below:

Headshot photo credit: Sara De Boer / Retna Ltd.

HAIRSPRAY image courtesy of Warner Bros