One of the stars of arguably the biggest movie musical of the 21st century now has a totally normal job away from Hollywood.
Nikki Blonsky shot to fame back in 2007 when she landed the role of Tracy Turnblad in the movie musical Hairspray alongside the likes of John Travolta, Zac Efron and James Marsden.
The film, adapted from the Broadway musical of the same name, follows teenage Tracy through Baltimore in 1962 as she battles to integrate the local population after landing a spot on a local TV dance show.
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Nikki was a totally unknown factor when she landed the role at only 18. She had been working at a New York ice cream shop when she auditioned – and thankfully producers insisted on casting a little-known star.
(Image: New Line Cinema)
The actress later landed the Critics Choice Award for Best Young Performer, and was handed a nomination at the Golden Globes.
Despite her insane level of success, Nikki’s roles dried up after Hairspray wrapped. She went on to star in projects like 2013’s Geography Club, TV series including Smash and Huge, and a TV movie called Queen Sized.
She also played Teri for an episode of Ugly Betty in 2009.
In 2011, Nikki was forced to take a normal job to help pay her bills, and worked to get her cosmetology license.
(Image: Getty Images)
The star began working as a hairstylist and make-up artist in her hometown of Great Neck in New York.
At the time, her boss confirmed Nikki was “scheduled to work two to three times a week” until a “media frenzy took over”.
The actress admitted: “It’s true I’m working at Superstar Salon as a make-up artist and more I’m proud to be working and helping pay bills but I’ll NEVER lose sight of my dreams.”
She told Out Magazine in 2017: “I did not take a conscious step out of Hollywood and so long as I’m alive, I never will.
(Image: Getty Images for the 2019 Nantucket Film Festival)
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“Singing and acting has been my dream since I was three. It kind of feels like the industry left me.”
Nikki added: “It felt like they took me to the top of a mountain and gave me everything I ever wanted. Then after a year, they all just looked at me and said, ‘Okay bye!’ and left me with no way to get down.”
In 2020, Nikki delighted her fans when she came out as gay to celebrate Pride Month.
She shared a sweet TikTok of her dancing to Diana Ross’s I’m Coming Out, with a confetti-filled post reading: “I’m gay!”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
