Long Island Teen Nikki Blonsky to Play Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray Film

In a true Cinderella casting story, 17-year-old Long Island performer Nikki Blonsky has been chosen to play Tracy Turnblad in the forthcoming film version of Hairspray, according to a report that aired on Entertainment Tonight.

"I'm surprised I'm still standing," the young star told Entertainment Tonight after being surprised with the news on camera by director Adam Shankman via a laptop computer video message. Seen scooping ice cream at her job at Cold Stone Creamery, Blonsky gushed about her comparisons to the character: "I've always been the heavyset girl who just wanted to follow her dreams."

Marissa Jaret Winoker, who won a 2003 Tony Award for originating the role of Tracy, tells Broadway.com, "I'm thrilled for Nikki! I think it was totally smart for New Line to cast a real 17-year-old. Hello--she is literally half my age! I wish her all the luck and wonderful success that Tracy brought both me and Ricki Lake."

In 2004, Blonsky appeared in a student productions of Hair and Alice in Wonderland as well as a festival of one-act plays in suburban Great Neck, NY, according to a website chronicling high-school theater performances sponsored by the Great Neck Library. In July 2005, she was listed as one of four participants in a "Young Performers in Concert" event at Morgan Park in Glen Cove, NY.

As previously reported, the film adaptation of Hairspray will star John Travolta, Queen Latifah and Amanda Bynes as Edna Turnblad, Motormouth Maybelle and Penny Pingleton, respectively. Directed by Shankman, the film is expected to begin production in Baltimore and Toronto in September. Release is set for summer 2007.