Where Is Hairspray's Nikki Blonsky? See What 2007's Tracy Turnblad is Doing Now!

Now that Hairspray Live! is just hours away, fans may be wondering what happened to the cast of the 2007 film!

We caught up with Nikki Blonsky – who starred as Tracy Turnblad alongside Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes, John Travolta and more – to get her reaction to the new NBC version, and to see what she’s up to now!

“I’m thrilled that NBC has decided to put out a powerful musical with such a positive message for the country to see at such a pivotal point in our country’s history,” Nikki told JustJared.com. “I hope it can be used not only as entertainment but as an educational piece for our youth. I know when I did the 2007 film version of Hairspray it was needed and changed a lot of lives worldwide…hopefully this version that airs today can do the same nationwide. I will cherish the relationships I made in 2007 on the film version, my cast is family to me and always will be. We truly are film family for life.”

Hairspray Live! airs TONIGHT, Wednesday, December 7 @ 8PM ET/PT on NBC.

In case you missed it, other former Tracy’s Ricki Lake and Marissa Jaret Winokur are both excited to make cameos in Hairspray Live!.

Click inside to find out what Nikki Blonsky is up to now…

“Also, I’m excited to mention my new film Dog Years starring the legendary Burt Reynolds, Chevy Chase, Ariel Winter, and Clarke Duke who played my adorable boyfriend!” Nikki told us. “It’s a wonderfully meaningful movie about getting older in the entertainment business, but it never gets old to those who love to act in it.”

She continued, “I formed a bond with Burt that is beyond words. He became like a grandfather figure to me and I’ll be forever grateful to him for his words of wisdom, for his love and advice. I also just wrapped another film! I can’t say too much but be on the lookout for that. Watch out world! You may know me as Tracy Turnblad but I’ve got a lot more in me to show you through many more ventures in my career in TV and film!”