225:. Originally, Waters had plans for Divine to play both Edna and Tracy, though eventually the idea was scrapped. However, Divine does also play Arvin Hodgepile, the racist television station manager out of drag. When describing the role, Divine noted that with this character he could not be accurately described as a drag queen, proclaiming "What drag queen would allow herself to look like this? I look like half the women from Baltimore."
483:, stated that Fierstein's performance is "The iconic Edna Turnblad. We should memorialize that performance on film," and that his involvement with the production made it "come full circle". Though Greenblatt had also expressed interest in having Travolta reprise his role from the musical film. Fierstein also wrote the
183:, the licensing company that holds the rights for the musical, describes Edna as "Tracy's loving mother who doesn't spend much time outside the house. She works days and nights as a laundress in her home, and her lack of social interaction has made her a bundle of nerves."
228:
Hairspray was Divine's last feature film, as he died three weeks after its premiere and only nine days after its theatrical release. He received widespread acclaim for the role, with critics proposing that with
450:
444:
called
Travolta's portrayal a "Blandly earnest betrayal," while some called his performance, and him by relation, outright homophobic. Despite this, Travolta was nominated for several awards including the
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Edna is a laundress living in
Baltimore with her husband Wilbur and mother of Tracy, the plot's protagonist. She comments heavily on her insecurities related to her weight, even bringing up her
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238:
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voice type, adding another level of humor to his portrayal. Fierstein did not play the role for the entirety of its over six year
Broadway run, but he, as well as
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notes that Edna's drag portrayal "...adds queerness to the musical, which has no gay characters" and that the traditional standards of femininity, as well as
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241:. In addition, Divine's groundbreaking performance as Edna is the inspiration for the continued casting of men in the role of Tracy's mother.
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noting that "With this role, Fierstein places himself in the great line of
Broadway divas." His performance also earned him the 2003
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420:(also fought for by the actor) and was an overall lighter portrayal of Edna. He received mixed reviews for his portrayal, with
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several times throughout the musical adaptation. The character is most well-known for being portrayed by a man in
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413:, who shared Travolta's wishes to put Edna into several revealing outfits and give her body a defined figure.
186:
The chapter "Embracing excess: The queer feminist power of musical theatre diva roles," in
Michelle Dvoskin's
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233:, Divine finally broke into the mainstream world of film. He later received a posthumous nomination for the
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in theatre, are challenged by the portrayal and eventual acceptance of the character's body type and size.
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who originated the role of Tracy, returned to the show for its last months of performances at the
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were hired to design and create Edna's look (including a fat suit consisting of layered pads and
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Dvoskin, Michelle. "Embracing excess: The queer feminist power of musical theatre diva roles."
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662:"North Olmsted native Tony Gardner creates John Travolta's fat suit for
571:(Paperback ed.). University Press of Mississippi. pp. xxiii.
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838:"Exclusive: Hairspray Live! to Feature Live Audience and New Songs"
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Fierstein's performance was highly praised by critics, with the
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will depend entirely on your reaction to this performance..."
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first iteration, the 1988 comedy film written and directed by
912:"An exuberant Hairspray Live! offers a light in the darkness"
958:
940:
Milstead, Frances; Heffernan, Kevin; Yeager, Steve (2001).
389:
was in talks to play Edna on screen by executive producers
637:"Casting looms for New Line's younger-skewing 'Hairspray'"
591:
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agreeing, noting that the performance was "Wonderful."
863:"'Hairspray' live musical coming to NBC in December"
221:, Edna was played by drag queen, actor, and singer,
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467:Fierstein returned to the role of Edna in the 2016
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263:'s 2002 musical adaptation by actor and playwright
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51:
41:
29:
24:
416:Travolta's interpretation of the role had a heavy
621:Kissel, Howard. "This Show Has Body And Bounce",
315:Other notable portrayals of Edna onstage include
279:. Fierstein is known for his distinctly gravelly
377:From the early developmental stages of the 2007
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430:going as far to say that "How you feel about
8:
132:is a fictional character from the 1988 film
397:. Once Travolta was confirmed in the role,
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967:
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944:. Los Angeles and New York: Alyson Books.
451:Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
267:after premiering the role in the show's
172:best known by his stage name "Divine."
522:
479:. The network's head of entertainment,
306:Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical
21:
592:Milstead, Heffernan & Yeager 2001
7:
1196:Female characters in musical theatre
1079:(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs
1201:Fictional characters from Baltimore
660:Washington, Julie (July 20, 2007).
1206:Film characters introduced in 1988
836:Clement, Olivia (April 26, 2016).
699:"Seeking His Inner Her, Size XXXL"
625:(New York), August 16, 2002, p. 55
14:
779:Walls, Jeannette (July 3, 2007).
567:Egan, James (13 September 2011).
723:Stevens, Dana (July 19, 2007).
164:, with Edna's originator being
888:"TV Review: 'Hairspray Live!'"
751:Denby, David (July 30, 2007).
697:Green, Jesse (July 15, 2007).
557:vol. 10, no. 1 (2016): 93–103.
1:
1162:Hairspray: The School Musical
886:Saraiya, Sonia (2016-12-08).
457:Live musical television film
810:"Hairspray – Golden Globes"
535:Music Theatre International
181:Music Theatre International
1222:
555:Studies In Musical Theatre
469:live television adaptation
460:
370:
248:
206:
188:Studies in Musical Theatre
1191:Female characters in film
1107:Big, Blonde and Beautiful
143:adaption of the same name
115:Tracy Turnblad (daughter)
635:Mohr, Ian (2005-03-13).
235:Independent Spirit Award
1128:You Can't Stop the Beat
569:John Waters: Interviews
255:Edna was originated on
81:In-universe information
1121:I Know Where I've Been
1065:Good Morning Baltimore
605:"Awards for Hairspray"
373:Hairspray (2007 film)
323:premiere, as well as
285:Marissa Jaret Winokur
209:Hairspray (1988 film)
176:Character description
166:Harris Glenn Milstead
1169:The Buddy Deane Show
1072:I Can Hear the Bells
1048:2007 film soundtrack
1038:1988 film soundtrack
239:Best Supporting Male
1093:Welcome to the 60's
678:on February 1, 2009
251:Hairspray (musical)
19:Fictional character
16:Fictional character
1043:2002 musical album
703:The New York Times
289:Neil Simon Theatre
273:5th Avenue Theatre
269:out-of-town tryout
245:Musical adaptation
1178:
1177:
1100:Run and Tell That
951:978-1-55583-594-1
785:isn't a gay film"
481:Robert Greenblatt
308:, as well as the
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674:. Archived from
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418:Baltimore accent
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265:Harvey Fierstein
61:Harvey Fierstein
30:First appearance
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489:Mark O'Donnell
461:Main article:
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441:The New Yorker
403:Alterian, Inc.
381:adaptation of
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361:Shane Jacobson
325:Michael McKean
319:in the show's
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353:Trevor Ashley
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349:Phill Jupitus
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329:Bruce Vilanch
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302:Howard Kissel
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153:adaptations.
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130:Edna Turnblad
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25:Edna Turnblad
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1114:Without Love
1018:
1009:2002 musical
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920:. Retrieved
918:. 2016-12-08
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895:. Retrieved
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870:. Retrieved
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845:. Retrieved
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819:. Retrieved
813:
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794:February 10,
792:. Retrieved
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764:February 10,
762:. Retrieved
756:
746:
736:February 10,
734:. Retrieved
728:
725:"Not a Drag"
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706:. Retrieved
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680:. Retrieved
676:the original
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644:. Retrieved
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447:Golden Globe
439:
431:
428:Dana Stevens
421:
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399:Tory Gardner
382:
379:musical film
376:
367:Musical film
345:Brian Conley
341:George Wendt
337:Paul C. Vogt
333:John Pinette
317:Michael Ball
314:
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74:Musical film
52:Portrayed by
33:
997:Productions
934:Works cited
847:November 5,
487:, adapting
436:David Denby
391:Craig Zadan
219:John Waters
215:Hairspray's
120:Nationality
46:John Waters
1185:Categories
1138:Characters
922:2023-11-05
897:2023-11-05
872:2023-11-05
753:"Dream On"
646:2023-11-05
623:Daily News
540:2023-11-05
517:References
411:Rita Ryack
395:Neil Meron
297:Daily News
198:Portrayals
192:diva roles
170:drag queen
158:diet pills
151:television
94:Occupation
42:Created by
1014:2007 film
1004:1988 film
990:Hairspray
789:Today.com
783:Hairspray
708:August 2,
682:August 6,
664:Hairspray
531:"Casting"
432:Hairspray
383:Hairspray
357:Nina West
261:Hairspray
231:Hairspray
135:Hairspray
98:Laundress
35:Hairspray
1154:See also
842:Playbill
485:teleplay
407:silicone
321:West End
281:baritone
257:Broadway
147:its film
138:and its
123:American
112:Children
892:Variety
821:July 5,
641:Variety
504:Variety
277:Seattle
271:at the
65:Musical
1031:Albums
1023:(2016)
948:
867:EW.com
575:
359:, and
223:Divine
104:Spouse
89:Female
86:Gender
56:Divine
1057:Songs
730:Slate
423:Slate
946:ISBN
849:2023
823:2021
815:HFPA
796:2022
766:2022
738:2022
710:2007
684:2008
609:IMDB
573:ISBN
497:book
491:and
449:for
393:and
237:for
168:, a
162:drag
149:and
495:'s
477:NBC
438:of
426:'s
275:in
259:in
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