‘Hairspray’ star Nikki Blonsky on coming out, how John Travolta was her drag mom

nypost.com:

John Travolta. Now, 15 years later, Blonsky appeared on Tuesday’s episode of the “Allison Interviews” podcast and recalled how Travolta — who dressed in drag and played Tracy’s mom, Edna — helped build her confidence. “‘Always be yourself.’ That is what John told me,” Blonsky, now 33, told host Allison Kugel. “He said, ‘Always stay true to Nikki.

Don’t change for this business or anybody in the business. Don’t take any roles that don’t feel right to you. Do it your way.

Just do what feels right in your heart.’ I have taken that with me through every movie, every TV show and every life experience that I’ve gone through,” she said. “’Hairspray’ was the greatest blessing in the world in my life, but my relationship with John and his advice really is something that I could have never fathomed,” Blonsky added. “I would never have imagined somebody who is so busy and one of the biggest stars in the world would take so much time to take care of the people he loves, or that I would be one of those people that he reaches out to continuously.”She added that they talk “every year” on their birthdays and on holidays, saying it “means so much” to her.“It’s almost like light just beams out of his heart.

He lightens up a room. He always finds the good and the positive,” she spoke of the actor and “Grease” icon.“He makes everybody feel like when he’s talking to you, that you are the only person there.