Sometimes a stint in the fast food lane can land you on the
fastest track to stardom.Just ask spunky actress Marissa
Jaret Winokur who got to snarl, "You are soooo busted" at
Annette Bening in 1999's American Beauty. When Bening's
character,canoodling with Peter Gallagher,drove up to the
Mr. Smiley's window for some shakes and fries,she got
snagged by her hubby Kevin Spacey,the newest (albeit
unlikely)Mr. Smiley employee.

"I had absolutely no idea that such a nothing part could do
so much for my career,"explains a bewildered Jaret,who
has received more recognition from fans for delivering that
one kitschy line than her Broadway debut in the revival of
Grease,daunting stint in the recent Reprise concert of Hair,
appearance in seven other films,ten sitcoms and even 
recurring roles on Dharma and Greg and Moesha.

But kitsch is exactly what the director of the new Broadway
musical,Hairspray(based on the John Waters cult film),
was looking for.Jaret fills the dancing shoes of Tracy
Turnblad,a big girl with big hair in 1960's Baltimore.After
winning a spot on the local "Corny Collins Shoe,"Tracy is
transformed overnight from outsider to irrepressible teen
celebrity."Marissa was perfect for the part-she's funny,
talented and throws her weight around with grace and 
confidence,"gushes John Waters,who still resides in his
native Baltimore."I think she's the new kind of Broadway
leading lady who breaks the mold."

Winokur would have to agree:"Until this,I was always the
goofy sidekick who delivers the punchline then disappears.
Now I get to be the leading lady with 100 sidekicks!"says
Winokur,who like her Hairspray predecessor Ricki Lake,
also hails from Westchester,NY.

One of her so-called sidekicks is none other than Harvey
Turnblad who will play the role of Edna,Tracy's irresistible
stage Mom. "Harvey is an absolute genius,"coos Winokur
while instructing the hairstylist at the photo shoot to
heighten her hair to,um,even height-defying proportions.

Poufed to the max and ready for her close-up in more ways
than one,Winokur reveals why playing characters like Tracy
Turnblad makes showing up for work these days so
absolutely fabulous: "She isn't fazed by her size one bit.
Her dream is to dance and she makes it happen.She is
completely in control of her destiny.She inspires everyone
to want to be better."