On Monday, various luminaries attended the premiere of Hairspray in L.A., including the always brilliant Queen Latifah. Latifah plays Motormouth Maybelle, and she was still wearing her character’s dazzling blonde hair at the premiere:
Holy platinum pate! And holy, uh, other stuff. Here are some more photos of the Queen at the premiere:
I can hear the bells, my Queen! Coincidentally, last night I finally saw Hairspray on Broadway, with Darlene Love in the Motormouth Maybelle role. She was fantastic, but I was distracted because I couldn’t figure out where I know her from. I think maybe I saw her on The Rosie O’Donnell Show in 1998. (Ah, that was a happier time, before Rosie started drawing horns on former friends.)
I’m sure Latifah will be great in the film — can’t wait to hear her sing “I Know Where I’ve Been.” But I’m already cringing about John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, because I doubt he can do that kind of camp. (And because he’s been saying there’s nothing gay in the movie. Durrrr.) Here’s hoping I’m wrong.
And here’s hoping the new film keeps the same sweet-yet-twisted air of the stage show. Yes, I know it’s not nearly as twisted as the original Waters film, but I love the idea of teen throngs squealing as a chunky girl sings a morning greeting to rats, flashers and bums in Baltimore.
Hairspray hits theaters July 20. It also stars Nikki Blonsky, Amanda Bynes, Christopher Walken, Brittany Snow, Allison Janney and Michelle Pfeiffer. Here’s the trailer again in case you haven’t seen it:
