Hairspray star Ricki Lake has come a long way since her fame in the 1988 movie musical. Lake was just a teenager when she stepped onto the big screen as Tracy Turnblad, and she went on to star in other successful films and TV shows before eventually embarking on a new career as a host of her own popular talk show.
Lake initially caught the attention of film producers when she taped a television commercial for a beauty pageant that aired in 1983, which led to the audition for Hairspray the following year. After the movie became a hit, Lake was cast in other roles in television series and movies, including the sequel to Hairspray.
In 1993, Lake returned to her roots by taking on the lead role in a Saturday morning variety show called The Ricki Lake Show, which was aimed at pre-teens and teenagers. Initially, the show won high ratings but eventually petered out after four seasons.
In 1996, Lake earned an Emmy Award nomination for her documentary, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, which she both produced and hosted. However, her next endeavor made the biggest splash of her career thus far.
In the fall of 1993, Lake premiered the Ricki Lake Show, which became a huge success with daytime viewers. In her capacity as a talk show host, Lake addressed controversial topics such as teenage suicide and women's body image.
Lake's show was an instant hit and went on to earn her multiple Emmy Award nominations. She closed out strong with the show's 11-season run, during which she interviewed some of the world's most well-known celebrities and leaders.
In recent years, Lake has dedicated her time to other projects. She directed the documentary the Business of Being Born and was executive producer on the 2013 documentary, Breastmilk. Additionally, she wrote her first book, Your Best Birth.
Not content to rest on her laurels, Lake recently became a correspondent on ABC News reality series What Would You Do? The show puts everyday people into difficult or uncomfortable situations to observe how they respond.
Ricki Lake is a testament to the old saying about not letting success go to one's head — she is living proof that hard work and devotion pay off. Even after her initial Hairspray fame, she was able to reinvent herself time and time again, continuing to stay relevant and successful in her craft.