Ricki Lake on Playing the Iconic Role of Tracy Turnblad in 'Hairspray'

[@alankelly-hamm2702]

I lived in San Francisco from the mid 70's to the mid 80's. I had seen every John Waters movie (this was pre Hairspray) and I loved Divine. One day I was at Safeway buying groceries and I heard a soft very familiar voice behind me. I turned around and there was Divine (Glenn Millstead) standing behind me talking to his friend. He was dressed in male clothes an oversized white tee shirt and dark pants and a shaved head. I instantly recognized him and I gushed., literally gushed. He was so gracious and kind. I went home that day with an autographed grocery bag that said "Stay sweet and always be kind...DIVINE" He was a very nice man.

[@seanpowell1661]

This was the movie that made me a Ricki Lake fan back in 1988.

[@xemnas9098]

And her talk show in 93 was an added bonus..."Go Ricki, Go Ricki"!!

[@Hardbody217]

I'd forgotten how charming and entertaining Ricki Lake is. Nice to see her. I'm going to re-watch Hairspray & Cry Baby now.

[@faerefolke]

Divine was divine.

[@hdelmas1]

😍😍😍😍😍😍all these years, and she still looks gorgeous!!!

[@blackdaria9075]

I love Tracey Turnblad!!!! I love love love hairspray!

[@erikwick]

Thanks Ru for having Ricki talk about the late GREAT Divine. I was in highschool when Hairspray (the only and original) came out and was DESTROYED to learn Glenn had died. DESTROYED. I had my own personal Stonewall after his death. 'Polyester' will remain my personal favorite Divine performance of all time.

[@ThePoobears]

mine too :)

[@sandra-jones]

Really nice to see Ricki and to get an inside glimpse of Divine. I have scoured the globe looking for him and have found that he was an amazing person who took his craft seriously. I loved his work.

[@itsjemmabond]

The original Hairspray was the best...no question.

[@suavehinrg]

Absolutely!

[@stevelutz9089]

Truuth!

[@3j09]

No

[@andrewjames2617]

Yes it was

[@Dion_Mustard]

10000% agree. the new one is DREADFUL.

[@giggles7179]

42 years old. 42. And look what Divine managed to squeeze into that time. I have to admit that upon seeing the "Hairspray" remake, I found myself really emotional, wondering how Divine would have felt seeing the film's legacy and the high regard the mainstream would embrace her with all these years later.

[@danyielsays4621]

I remember watching female trouble,pink flamingos,desperate living and polyester!!! Oh my god John waters is a legend icon!!!!r.I.p. Devine💙✋💜

[@gabrielapetrilli9852]

I love Rupaul for acknowledging that Tracy is a body positive character! Hairspray is my favourite musical of all time because of the music and the themes that are still relevant today!

[@jackiefloyd8003]

I loved Divine and the original Hairspray is still one of my all time favorite movies; my late mother was a big fan of both too.💕

[@1974dita]

I just love you Rupaul. You are awesome.

[@sugaryttys]

BEST MOVIE EVER!!! never thought about gay or straight just loved the music and the story❤❤❤

[@edreid7872]

Saw Ricki at a NYC Burger king.....said hello, she was so sweet as we ordered our Whoppers..lol...

[@jieronbaltazar7258]

Was she nice

[@marquesbell4178]

@@jieronbaltazar7258 "She was so sweet," he said.

[@1spiker1]

Ed was being patronizing, implying that Ricki works at a Burger King despite the fact that she was and is more successful than he will ever be. Nice that the rest of you were so good-natured that his sad slam didn’t work.

[@edreid7872]

1Spiker1....Funny you'd assume I was implying she was working there...we were both costumers....idiot..

[@TracyT5150]

You are my absolute hero Im so thankful that you open up doors for everyone I think you're amazing thank you RuPaul we love you 💖

[@kojikaze8228]

John waters & Divine: ICONS

[@GreenBanana675]

Girl, I felt that when she said she was sheltered. I live in Ithaca (I'm from the South) and man, this place is so sheltered still.

[@DavidRichardson95]

The two of them on that stage define the early '90s for sure. Both of them were _way_ ahead of their time.

[@danieldubek6155]

Love the original and love Ricki. Especially love John Waters and Divine. ❤️

[@MiniM69]

It was a sin that John Waters wasn’t at the Met. This, and black queens, were some of the first visual representations of camp!

[@oheyvinny]

What a great interview

[@JM-zo5me]

She looks great! She could’ve kept doing her show all this time.

[@babywah3290]

Ricki is awesome, gives me a chub.❤

[@ourtravelingzoo3740]

I love her

[@Ed-iz4wm]

I love Ricki Lake....The only reason I clicked on this video...

[@HR-rl4ke]

Always liked riki!!!!!!

[@COBYKOEHL2]

FUCKING GREAT INTERVIEW

[@KenAdams426]

Ricki is still as hot as ever. Loved her since crybaby!! and then she was great in King of Queens.

[@rogerdale5451]

Was that Sharon Cheralike in the audience with Ross?

[@jessegothmidnightheart]

Fabulous

[@matthewf5668]

1:03. So sad, she was giving a clue 6 months earlier to what she would talk about in that brave IG post about 6 months later.

[@kumachan9311]

"Shes prettier than Elisabeth Taylor !"

[@jamescarpenter275]

Debbie Harry was brilliant!!

[@allyoopopp]

Don't forget cha cha!

[@Potentialaj]

Hairspray is still my shit. 💜💜💜

[@starcrestsummermoon8870]

OMG that!!! Tracy Turnblad play on Tracy Turn Bald because of her hair loss. WHY that name!

[@massagebroad]

I C O N I C

[@kassandrabowman1608]

The original version of Hairspray is my favorite! Im not a fan of the remake. Its missing something

[@itsjemmabond]

Before Ryan Murphy, there was John Waters.

[@CashelOConnolly]

Divine will always be Edna Turnblatt not Travolta’s ridiculous fat suit monstrosity. Please watch Divine’s early stuff especially Female Trouble he was a great actor. R.I.P Glen 🏳️‍🌈

[@itsjemmabond]

Oh come on! Divine was the best Edna, but don't be so harsh on John, he did a great job

[@jamesduksta5595]

Divine is a legend, but Travolta filled those shoes in that role, imo.

[@liamseanking23]

What did divine die of ?

[@fara0045]

Enlarge heart

[@deerelad62]

Who the woman sitting next to Ross?

[@stephenfdb]

Dale Reed lol...that’s Michelle Visage.

[@deerelad62]

stephenfdb who is she? Gotta Google.

[@MaleahsDiary]

🤗 I MISS RICKI LAKE! THIS WAS A NICE SURPRISE! 🤗 (Please don't click on my face. I'm a germaphobe.)

[@starcrib]

Ricky lake has always been pure light- Rupaul was super dark in the 80s. a real monster.

[@abe_froman8360]

Hairspray the movie is based on the play which is based on the movie? My head hurts...

[@sambrownsings]

It was a non musical movie first, then it was a stage musical, then it was a movie musical. In that order

[@MikeIdy6000]

antonzap - out of curiosity, do you know who these people are?: Debbie Harry, Ruth Brown, Sonny Bono, Dee Dee Sharp, Connie Francis

[@tj205bama]

Why is this called RuPaul show...he's out of drag

[@matthewf5668]

That's his real birth name

[@rhiannonbeth4352]

Cry baby !!! My guilty pleasure xxx

The show is getting better but is creepy to have ..oh what;'s his name.. The fat guy with the lady voice.... Oh yeah Ross Mathews... Why is he lurking in the background?

[@r3drift]

Rupaul is not good at this gig. It's so forced Idk he seems over caffeinated and trying too hard

[@reneejones-gt1om]

He taljs over his guest. How annoying

[@artsyfartsy6286]

Ru is a terrible host. You can tell on his face that he’s not really a listener. He’s only thinking about what he’s going to say next.