Dishing with 'Hairspray' Film Cast: Nikki Blonsky

Building on the tradition of finding an unknown actress to play the leading role of Tracy Turnblad in "Hairspray," the producers of the new big screen musical adaptation found then 17-year-old Nikki Blonsky to take on the plus-size role.

Blonsky was still going to high school, and working at an ice cream shop in New York, hoping to one-day snag the role she was born to play.  Having no prior film experience, this soon-to-be superstar had the opportunity of a lifetime, working alongside such co-stars as John Travolta, Christopher Walken and Michelle Pfeiffer.

"Hairspray" is originally based on the 1988 John Waters comedy. The new version of the film is based on New Line's hit Broadway adaptation of the film, which debuted in 2002, and went on to win eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Director.  

Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman contributed new songs to their existing Tony Award-winning score. Shaiman also serves as the film's music supervisor and will compose the music score for the film as well as produce its songs. Wittman and Shaiman will also serve as executive producers on the film. The new screenplay for Hairspray was written by Leslie Dixon (Freaky Friday, Outrageous Fortune).

Following a screening of the film, Blonsky sat down at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills to discuss her role in "Hairspray."

How did the audition process work for the role of Tracy Turnblad?

I saw Hairspray (the Broadway show) when I was 15, and fell in love with it.  Tracy just jumped off the stage and into my heart and that was it.  And then at 16, I auditioned for the Broadway show and they told me I was too young.  I was devastated.  I wanted to do it more than anything.  And then all of a sudden the next year I turned 17, and checked on the website waiting to see an open call for the Broadway show, and it said open call for the movie.  And I said, the movie!  Okay, hold on a second, this is it.  They said scroll down to find the ages and I said, please be 17, don't be 18, and it was 17-24.  I made a videotape and we sent it into New Line of me singing songs and scenes from the Broadway show.  They forwarded it to the casting directors and they said we're coming to New York, we'd like you to come in during the open call, and I came in.  Five months I kept going on call back after call back and audition after audition and finally the final step was a screen test out here in Los Angeles, and it was my first time out here.  I was like, oh my gosh, Hollywood, this is unbelievable.  Then I did the screen test and went home.  They said the earliest you could find out would be two days and the latest would be two weeks.  Four weeks later, I was still sitting there back at the ice cream store, because I was working at a Cold Stone Creamery, an ice cream shop in my local town of Great Neck, Long Island New York.  And I was waiting and they called and said, we're doing a behind-the-scenes with the four final girls, and for you we would like to come to Cold Stone.  I said, okay, come on down.  And they came the day before my senior prom.  They had the full camera crew… when they said a camera crew I thought one guy with a camera.  No, no.  It was four cameras and three people with the big boom sticks and they were mic'ing me when I was scooping ice cream.  And then they sat me down and said would you mind watching some of the other people's screen tests.  I said, no.  I didn't even think it was unusual at that time.  But at that point, if they would have said, would you roll over and play fetch with us, I would have said sure.  Anything to play Tracy.  So, I sat down and all of a sudden they opened a laptop and Adam Shankman, the director, popped up on the screen and said, hi Nikki… I want to thank you for going through this long process but at this time I think you should go make yourself a big ice cream cone because you are going to be playing Tracy Turnblad in the new "Hairspray" movie.  And I fell off my chair crying and screaming, with my arms flailing everywhere, freaking out.

I'm sure we can expect that on the DVD?

You can watch it on YouTube too.  Little did I know the cameras weren't just New Line cameras, they were ET cameras.  And then they said to me, congratulations Nikki, now you have two minutes, go wash your face because you have to do your first interview with ET, live.  And I'm like, oh my god, Entertainment Tonight, that's unbelievable.  It was a total whirlwind.  So unbelievable and so exciting, and it hasn't stopped since.  I had a week at home, I did my prom then I started doing press right away and did the "Today Show"… all of a sudden I am in the middle of Rockefeller Center… the train has not stopped and I'm thankful, because I like busy and I love talking about this movie, because it's packed with some really amazing messages.

How was it having John Travolta and Christopher Walken as parents?

Well, it was an amazing experience.  They are both legendary actors and icons in their own right.  So talented, but two of the most gentle kind men I think I've ever met in my entire life.  So sweet, and I adore both of them.  My parents are two of the most important people in my life, so to have people play the really important key characters as your parents; this bond has to be created.  From the second I met Chris and John, that bond was there.  The chemistry was there and the family was born.  So, it was incredible to work with them.

The entire cast has said how natural you were on set.  What was it that let you be so relaxed during the whole process?

I really credit it to my upbringing and the home my parents created.  They never made me feel like I was different because I was plus sized or short.  I knew I was different but they told me I was beautiful no matter what way I came and they told me I could do anything I could put my mind to.  So they supported me 100%.  When you have parents like that and they are feeding that to you every day, I think you have no choice but to be confident in whom you are and be proud of it.

What would you say to a kid not feeling comfortable with the way they look?

I would first tell them to go see "Hairspray."  (Laughing)  I think the bottom line is you have to find it within yourself and be secure within yourself before you can be any good to anybody else.  So, I think you have to find the passion within you and whatever your dream is, whether it is to be in this business or be whatever you want to be.  It doesn't matter what you really look like, if you have the passion and the drive for it, go for it.  At the end of the day it's about the talent and it's about the love and compassion and not about the length of the hair and the size of the hips.

What have you found out about the business since you have been here?

I've been in and out of this town for a few months now since the movie wrapped.  I've seen amazing things in Hollywood, all these big stars looking amazing.  And then I see the really sad things like Paris Hilton going to jail and Lindsay Lohan in jail.  I'm reading these magazine covers and feeling just terrible that it got to this point for both of them.  What I just really want to do is let kids know out there that if you have it within you, you can be good… follow your dreams really.

The movie is so energetic from beginning to end.  When you watch yourself, what's your reaction?

The first time I saw the movie, I cried hysterically.  I was like, that's me and those are my eyes.  Because that's pretty much how the movie opens, so to have your eyes fill up a huge screen like that, and in other scenes have your rear fill up a huge screen… I was like, did we really need to zoom in like that, really?  But no, it was incredible to watch the movie.  I know what it was to get the part and get all excited, and then to shoot it… then to watch it, it was just, oh my gosh, look at this thing we all created.

Did you find anything rather difficult while shooting, as this was your first movie?

The hardest part about making this movie was finishing the movie.  Leaving the set.  We all became so close.  I was just in the hallway and ran into Allison Janney, who I haven't seen in a few months, and just screamed… I was like her number one fan, because I really am.  You become a family, because you are with each other so long.  You are with each other 18 hours a day on set each day… and you become this family.  We were making this family fun comedy movie and were just having fun.  The most amazing thing about "Hairspray" is there is something for everybody in this movie.  And there is a person for everybody to relate to.  That is the most exciting part about being in this movie is that we all stand for something different, yet there are really some amazing messages in this movie as well.

Was it easy for you to relate to all of the race-related issues in the movie?

No, I researched the time period, because I had to go back and really see what it was all about.  I researched Baltimore in 1962.  I wanted to know who the mayor was and what Civil Rights movements were going on at the time.  Because you know, school wasn't that far away, having just gone through history class four months prior.  I remembered learning about it, so this was a time for me to really just go back into it and really dig into what was going on.  And I learned so much about the time period, and I think that is what really helped me in the portrayal of all the race issues and bigotry.  It was insane.  And to be able to stand up for those causes in the movie and then realize… I said to myself, if I was Nikki in 1962, I would be holding the same poster Tracy was.  And today, in 2007, we've come this far, and now we have so much more to go to overcome these issues because sadly we still deal with them.  I have faith that we will overcome, but I know I would be in that protest today if it needed to be.

Did you take dance lessons before the shooting?

I was a singer since the age of 3, trained since the age of 8.  Acted in my high school shows.  I never danced before "Hairspray."  I auditioned in Baltimore, and I remember going, oh god, just let it work.  Feet, do your magic.  I don't know how you are going to do it.  I don't even know what an eight count is, but just figure it out.  The choreographer got in the mirror and did the entire two-minute dance and said okay, do it back.  I swear it was the spirit of Baltimore, it just overtook me, and I did that dance and was like, oh my god, how am I moving.  It's unbelievable.  Once I got to the set, I went through eight hours a day for two months of intense dance rehearsals with the choreographer, just over and over.  And now, John (Travolta) and I agreed that after both doing the musical, he said, I could probably still do some of the dances from "Grease," and I said I would probably always be able to do the dances from "Hairspray," because they just drilled them for so long.

Would you be interested in doing Hairspray on Broadway now that you have done the film?

It's interesting; it's a different version.  So it would be a little bit of a different challenge, but it might be very exciting.  But at the same time, I would like to make more great movies and play more fun roles, and just explore.  Because, this was the open door I have been praying for my entire life.  And it's come and I am thankful for it, so I will not let it go to waste.

Did you have a backup plan if the acting thing didn't work out?

I had a deposit down for college at Long Island University.  I said, well if "Hairspray" doesn't work, I will just go to college and major in drama.  I was not going to give this up.  And I was going to minor in forensic science/criminal justice.  I just think I was obsessed with "CSI."  I really wanted this acting thing, but I was always the person with the motto, why sit in a classroom for four years learning how to audition, why not just audition.  Let me just go.  And thank god, I had the parents who just said go do it.

How was it working with such a big list of talented co-stars?

I really went into this movie with no expectations of the experience I was going to have or the people I was going to meet.  I knew I was going to meet these huge stars and legends.  But then I got to sit down and talk to them, with the cameras off.  Get to know John Travolta for John, and Michelle Pfeiffer for Michelle.  These are just incredible human beings.  That's the main key here.  They are the sweetest most nurturing people.  I think that's why everything works the way that it did.  We all had this passion and wanted to be there.  So I think that's why the movie turned out the way it did, so full of life and love.  We all were having fun with parts we were playing.

Do you have any new projects lined up?

I have been reading stuff and have been keeping busy with my agent.  John (Travolta) has graciously shared his agent with me, so I am with William Morris and we are working frivolously on finding another great film.

Would you be interested in doing another movie musical?

John (Travolta) starred in the greatest musical of all time, "Grease."  He has said to me, and to the press, a musical is really only made once every ten years.  So, if I were just to wait for musicals I would be waiting forever, or working only once every ten years, which is not acceptable.  I know I want to take some straight acting roles, drama or comedy.  I just want to put all my possibilities up for grabs and just try out all my chops.

Describe working with director Adam Shankman?

What I saw in Adam was a person that I want to be like, that I admired.  I have never seen a more passionate person than Adam Shankman.  He was destined to find an unknown to play Tracy.    He wanted to find me as much as I wanted to find him.  Which is why I think we were destined to find each other.  Now, he is one of my best friends.  I call him to consult on everything from my hair color to shoes… he is just that third parent in a way.  I have two great parents, but he is my dream maker… and he's also one of my best friends.  What I saw in Adam was a person I just really admire.

What was your first day of shooting like?

The first scene we shot was me getting off the garbage truck and running to the opening of the school doors and finishing "Good Morning Baltimore."  We started off with the end the number, but nevertheless we started with my first number of the movie.  So the first day of filming was pretty much, okay Nikki, get on your costume and go.  Get on top of the garbage truck and film the movie.  It was pretty amazing.  I wouldn't have wanted to start off in any other way.  The song, "Good Morning Baltimore," was a song I had auditioned with for three years of my life.  So to stand on a street in Toronto getting off of a garbage truck, and hearing your voice being played through speakers at six o'clock in the morning I think is unbelievable.  I was like, that's me, that's my version of "Good Morning Baltimore."  They were like, well of course, it's in the movie, we can't have you singing to the Broadway soundtrack.  I was just like, I know, but I didn't really expect to hear myself.  I guess a lot of people were used to dealing with people who were used to seeing themselves on camera and used to hearing their voice.  And me, I was not used to anything.  They even laughed at me because at one point it was five o'clock in the morning, and we had been working since five the past day, and I turn around and say, guys, we are making a movie.  They just turned around and went, oh boy.  (Laughing)  But nevertheless, everyone in this movie just welcomed me.  And I now have an extended family and a bunch of lifelong friends.

Photos courtesy David James/©2007 New Line Cinema.