Nikki Blonsky: No beauty school dropout
Actress Nikki Blonsky attends the Broadway opening night of "Bonnie & Clyde" at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on December 1, 2011 in New York City. Credit: Getty Images
Great Neck's Nikki Blonsky, who starred in the movie musical "Hairspray" (2007) and in last year's short-lived ABC Family series "Huge," has earned a cosmetology license and is working for a hometown hairstylist while still pursuing acting.
"She's working part-time in a salon while she continues to audition for TV and film roles," her agent Bill Viloric told Newsday. "She hasn't given up on her dreams."
The actress-singer-dancer, 23, recently joined the staff of Superstar Hairstylists, on Middle Neck Road in Great Neck. "Superstar is happy to announce our newest employee, our cosmetologist NIKKI BLONSKY from Hairspray," the shop, open Tuesdays through Saturdays, posted on its Facebook page Sunday. "We had an exciting fabulous day with her. We hope she enjoyed it too. Stay tuned for upcoming pictures of the beautiful makeup she did."
The salon could not be reached for comment Monday.
Blonsky, who "isn't doing interviews at the moment," according to Viloric, tweeted to her fans late Sunday and early Monday: "Its true Im workin@ Superstar Salon as a makeup artist & more Im proud 2 b workin & helpin pay bills BUT ill NEVER loose sight of my dreams. Just cause Im part time workin doesnt mean Im gonna give up on my dreams n dont give up on urs I might book something big soon keep positive."
The actress earned critical kudos, a Golden Globe nomination and the Broadcast Film Critics Association's Critics' Choice Award for best young actress for her role as music-mad teen Tracy Turnblad in the movie musical "Hairspray."
She appears to be earning equal acclaim from Superstar's patrons. "I was so surprised today when I showed up at Superstar to get my makeup done and it turned out to be Nikki Blonsky applying it, She did a great job and I really looked like a SUPERSTAR," wrote a Facebook commenter identified as Rosa Rizzo on the social-media site. Another, identified as Melissa Leibell, wrote, "he did an amazing job!! THANKS NIKKI! great surprise!"
Earlier this year, Blonsky worked part-time at the high-end Steven Dann boutique in Great Neck.
