Nicole Margaret Blonsky (born November 9, 1988) is an American actress and singer. She portrays Tracy Turnblad, the lead character, in the big-screen remake and adaptation of the musical Hairspray, released on July 20, 2007. She is known professionally as Nikki Blonsky. Blonsky hails from Great Neck, New York. She graduated from Great Neck Village School in June, 2006. She has done local theatre at both levels (youth center) and Great Neck South High School, and beat out thousands of hopefuls for the role in Hairspray. She learned that she got the role from the producers via the internet at the Cold Stone Creamery, where she also works during her after school hours.[1] The announcement was made public on the June 8, 2006 edition of Entertainment Tonight; the show's crew went to her workplace to film the surprise announcement. When asked about having won the role of Tracy Turnblad, Blonsky responded by saying "I'm shaking. I'm surprised I'm still standing!" She also told the New York Daily News that she hopes to distinguish herself from Ricki Lake and Marissa Jaret Winokur, who previously played the role, both of whom she has respect for: "I'm not going to try to fill anybody's shoes - I'm going to try to create a new pair of shoes!"