We love Hairspray and we love love love Leanne Jones who plays the amazing Tracy Turnblad! We went backstage to find out more about her and have a snoop in her wardrobe...

Leanne Jones really adds the sparkle to the amazing West End show Hairspray, she really puts her heart into playing the role in which she has received rave reviews and won prestigous awards for her role as Tracy Turnblad.

Leanne as Tracy Turnblad

We caught up with her, backstage, before a show to see how she landed the role and what has happened since...

Firstly, how did you land the role of Tracy Turnblad?
I went to drama school, at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in North London and in 2005 there was an open audition for Hairspray so I went along, there were hundreds of girls there – some were really tall, some were really skinny, black, white, some looked like me, there was every single girl you could imagine. But the advert was specific – it said something like "big girl, big heart, has to be under 5 foot 3” it was really refreshing I suppose  because the first round we were all lined up in a row and the people that looked wrong were sent home. At the end all the people were all very similar to me – same height and size. It was good to be a bigger girl and not be cut in the first round – I was standing in a room full of potential Tracy Turnblads!

And then what happened?
So I got through the various rounds that year and got down to the last three but the whole thing was post-poned so I went back to drama school. In 2007 I had all kinds of jobs but it was when I was working at Halifax bank that the auditions came up again and I got through all the rounds to get the role of Tracy!

How did you react?
I cried and then I was sick. I wasn’t allowed to tell many people but I called my Dad and some of my family and then I was sick again. I couldn’t believe it! I went to my boss and said I was really ill and I went home – it was nerve racking.

What advice would you give to our readers who are eager to pursue an acting career?
I would tell them to stay positive all the time and keep believing in yourself and never give up because you never know what is around the corner. You should just wait for things if something doesn’t happen for you you should accept that and move on without remembering the past. Being an actress can be personal because most of it is about the way you look – bu t when there is something that is right for you then it can be a wonderful experience – you should try and stay happy!

Leanne with her on-stage dad, crush and mum!

How has starring in Hairspray changed your life?
In every possible way – I was miserable because I wasn’t getting anywhere in the industry – but now I am incredibly happy – I get to sing those amazing songs and dress in the amazing clothes – it’s a dream come true!

Tracy skips school to audition for the show – did you ever play truant?
Ooh what if my dad reads this – I definitely used to truant P.E. one time I didn’t turn up and with my friends we went back to my house and we were dancing and singing in the living room then all of a sudden my Dad is marching up the driveway and through the window! Our eyes met and I just screamed to my friends ruuuuuunnnnn so we all went to the back door but he saw us and we got caught.
Skipping school is not worth it because you always get caught!

Ok so your on-stage crush Ben James-Ellis or the Hairspray film star Zac Efron?
Oh definitely Ben – cause he is lovely. He is one of my best friends! Zac is very pretty with amazing eyes but definitely Ben!

Watch Leanne giving us the lowdown on Tracy's wardrobe here>>>

Tracy holds some really high ideals – do you see any of yourself in her?
Oh yes – sometimes I think I am actually Tracy Turnblad – I think she is fantastic – I think I am a better person for playing her. Tracy is so loved and comfortable that she doesn’t care what people think of her or of what she says. There is one point in the show where Tracy gets insulted and I’ve been told to just look straight across and not hear it. I think that’s a healthy way to live your life – if someone is rude to you or picks on you at school you should just look the other way.


OK, now for some fun Sugar questions, where is your favourite place in the world?
Sardinia – it’s beautiful. It’s always hot, has amazing white sands and clear waters and I love the food there.

If you could take 1 item to a desert island what would it be?
I would take my ipod with my headphones – I love music so much I can’t be without. There is always a song you can listen to to suit your mood

Ok so what’s the most played song on your ipod?
Most probably Beyonce – I love her album B’Day

What’s your most worn item of clothing?
At the moment I’ve got a pink belt from Rocket that I love.

What’s the most expensive thing you have ever bought?
My handbag, it’s from Erva  - it’s not a well known designer, but it was a present to myself for opening up Hairspray. It was quite expensive and my dad nearly cried when I told him how much it was!
I love shopping – places like H&M, Primark and River Island are great!

And your fave make-up?
I love Mac – I always believed that buying a cheaper brand would be the same but you can really tell the difference with the more expensive stuff!

Who was your first snog and how old were you?
I was in year 8 so I was about 12 – it wasn’t a proper snog. His name was Ellio and he was a gorgeous Italian boy! I don’t think I really knew what I was doing.

Who or what is the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning?
Erm... porridge probably! I never used to eat breakfast but because porridge is slow burning it keeps me full up during rehearsals and things like that.

Who is your shouldn’t but would?
Who do I fancy but shouldn’t…erm…I really like Colin Murray – he was quite yummy when he interviewed me the other day!!

What’s your biggest fear?
Spiders and wasps! Maybe wasps first! I hate them both.



What is your favourite day of the week?
Sunday – it’s my day off! Usually I sleep in really late then get some friends round, have a roast and then play boardgames.

When was the last time you were star struck?
Last week – I went to see a John Barrowman concert. I was starstruck by him! He knew who I was – he said: “you look so different without your wig!” so that was nice!

Which celebs would you like to be friends with?
Beth Ditto – I think she’s mad but I’d love to meet her and chat to her and share opinions about being a bigger girl in the industry. I love her confidence!

If you were an animal what would you be?
I’d be a penguin – they are so cute! I’d want to be a baby penguin.

Would you prefer to have no hair or no teeth?
I’d prefer to have no hair – I could wear a wig. You don’t really need your hair apart from to look good but you need your teeth to eat!

Check out this clip of Welcome to the Sixties in Hairspray!

Hairspray is showing at The Shaftesbury Theatre now! Click here to book tickets!