HAIRSPRAY NEWCOMER NIKKI BLONSKY RELATES TO TURNBLAD

Newcomer Nikki Blonsky relates to her character Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray.

Newcomer Nikki Blonsky went from scooping ice-cream at her local Stone Cold Creamery parlor, occasionally belting out a song for an unsuspecting customer to starring in the new movie musical Hairspray winning the role of Tracy Turnblad over hundreds of hopefuls.

Nikki says she relates to Tracy, an overweight teen who turns heads on the Corny Collins dance show.

“Tracy feels like one of my best friends, like she’s like my imaginary friend. It’s kind of weird but she is. She’s somebody who I relate to, her message and her ideas and her thoughts. We share them, we have them in common. What I love about Tracy is she just does her thing and she just doesn’t care what people think and that’s how I am. I just say what’s on my mind and I love having fun. I just am the way I am because at the end of the day that’s what makes me happy is that I live today to the fullest and I did what made me happy today.”

Nikki couldn’t believe her good fortune singing and dancing with Grease star John Travolta who plays her mother Edna Turnblad.

“Welcome To The Sixties is my favorite favorite song and dance to do with John. I mean the lyrics in it were so good and it was weird for the first time hearing the playback and hearing me sing a line and then him sing a line. And I’m like, ‘that’s me on a soundtrack with John Travolta.’ Like that’s crazy, that’s unbelievable.”

John Travolta welcomed Nikki with open arms. The first time Nikki was on set with him dressed as Edna he exclaimed, ‘Come To Mama.’ Hairspray opens Friday in theaters.