Winding path to success for Blonsky

Bill Whelan

Nikki Blonksy has not had the traditional Hollywood career arc. 

The 24-year-old Great Neck native’s turn as Tracy Trumblad opposite the cross-dressing John Travolta in the blockbuster 2007 film “Hairspray” hasn’t yet led to the young actress’s conquering the movie industry, but her success has allowed her to return home every once in awhile. 

Last Thursday, Blonsky was back in her hometown for a screening of her new film, “The English Teacher,” which stars Julianne More, as part of the Gold Coast International Film Festival’s Furman Film Series at the Clearview Squires Cinema. 

Blonsky, who has a small part in the film, was invited to participate in a discussion about the film and her work after the screening. 

“When I was three years old I started singing, and I just remember making my grandma so happy,” Blonsky said. “I just wanted to make people happy and I took it and ran with it, I always felt best when I was performing.”

Blonsky said she fell in love with acting during the production of “Les Miserables” she performed in at Great Neck South High School. 

“‘Madame Thénardier” was my first big real role, so that was when the light bulb went off and I wanted to do theater all the time,” she said. 

While attending the Village School and working at Coldstone Creamery, Blonsky found out that the role of Tracy Turnblad in “Hairspray” was hers, after months of auditions. 

“My life changed literally in the matter of a minute,” said Blonsky.

Janine Robinson, who was Blonsky’s fifth grade teacher and is her current touring pianist, was in Coldstone on the rainy June night that Blonsky heard the news. 

“The studio sent a film crew and after store hours they showed her a recorded message telling her she got the part and she just fell on the floor and shrieked. The next day she showed up to high school with a big black limo and a team of P.R. people,” Robinson said.

“Hairspray” grossed over $200 million worldwide and is the sixth highest grossing musical in U.S. cinema history. 

And with that role came extraordinary experiences for the Great Neck native. 

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Blonsky said that on the first day at the studio, John Travolta said to her, ”Come to Momma.”

“I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor in life,” Blonsky said about Travolta in a phone interview. “Every day he taught me something new, he is like a third parent to me.”

After the immense success of “Hairspray,” Blonsky’s career stagnated for a bit. She had projects that didn’t develop, such as the ABC Family show, “Huge.” Blonsky even lived at home worked part-time at a Great Neck hair salon in 2011 to continue chasing her dreams.

“My family always keeps me going. No matter what they’re always been there for me,” said Blonsky. She explained that while she could have been on her own, she was glad she had parents that nurtured her and wanted her to be content. “My parents are a constant figure in my life and they’re my best friends,” Blonsky said.

“When Nikki’s not working, Nikki’s not happy and when Nikki’s not happy we’re not happy,” said Karen Blonsky, Nikki’s mother.

Parts of “The English Teacher” were filmed in Port Washington, and Blonsky said during production she took her parents and co-stars for a tour of her hometown.

“I became their co-star slash chauffeur,” said Blonsky. “It was a lot of fun to show people Great Neck… the best pizza place is Gino’s, and, just go down the list.” 

Blonsky was asked about Robinson, who sat next to Blonsky’s mother at the screening.

”Who would have thought in fifth grade that I’d be where I am“ Blonsky started to say before Robinson interjected with, “I did.”

“She’s a special person you can fly around the world with and just love unconditionally from fifth grade. And now I’m gonna be 25 so, she’s very special and somebody I hold very dear to my heart,” Blonsky said. 

Blonsky went on to say how proud she was to be from Great Neck and that her parents and grandparents were born in Great Neck. 

“Just know that I’m extremely proud of my daughter, as long as she’s working and she keeps a level head and she knows where she is and who she is and where she came from,” Karen Blonsky said to the crowd.

Blonsky has a role in the upcoming movie “Geography Club” based on the teen novel by Brent Hartinger. Her career looks to be on the upswing again, but no matter what she said she won’t lose sight of her dreams or the people who helped her achieve them.

“If you have a big dream, dream big, because you never know what could happen,” she said.

Share this Article