Who plays corny collins in hairspray

James Marsden has one very special actress to thank for his role in Hairspray.

The Dead to Me star, 46, recently appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and recounted his experience being cast as Corny Collins in the 2007 film, inspired by the hit Broadway musical.

"I was sitting down with Adam Shankman, the director, and Craig Zadan and Neil Meron at the time at an empty restaurant off Broadway in New York City," Marsden told host Ellen DeGeneres. "And we were just talking about the potential of me playing Corny Collins."

"In the middle of the interview, I had a tap on my shoulder and it was Julia Roberts, she was standing there," he recalled. "She said 'I don't mean to interrupt, but I just wanted to tell you that you're in my favorite movie, The Notebook, and I love what you do in the film, and congratulations on it, and nice to meet you.' "

Marsden said that immediately after Roberts, 52, left, his role in Hairpsray became a guarantee.

"Adam Shankman turns to me and goes, 'You didn't have the job already, but I think that sort of seals it.' " he said. "So I have Julia Roberts to thank for that, she was the one who cemented me getting cast in that role."

Hairspray featured a star-studded cast of Marsden, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Brittany Snow, Amanda Bynes, Queen Latifah, Allison Janey, Christopher Walken, and Nikki Blonsky.

The film debuted in theaters on July 20, 2007 and was a critical and financial success, holding the record for biggest sales at opening weekend for a movie musical until Mamma Mia! the following year.

James Marsden has revealed he landed a role in Hairspray after a random encounter with Julia Roberts.

The 46-year-old actor explained how he was being interviewed by director Adam Shankman when the Pretty Woman star came up and showered him with praise.

In an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, James recalled: ‘I had a tap on my shoulder and it was Julia Roberts just standing there.

‘And she said, “Sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt, but I just wanted to tell you you’re in my favourite movie, The Notebook, and I loved what you do in the film and congratulations on it, bye nice to meet you.”‘

James – who famously played the role of TV host Corny Collins in the 2007 movie – said that Julia’s intervention convinced Shankman to cast him.

The Dead to Me star added: ‘Adam Shankman turns to me and says, “If you didn’t have the role already, I think that just kind of sealed it.”‘

So basically Julia Roberts is not only a huge fan of The Notebook like the rest of us, but we might also have her to thank for helping James land one of his best roles.

He also spoke about his role on hit Netflix series Dead To Me and admitted it was an adjustment to play his character’s identical twin in the second season.

James admitted: ‘I mean at first I was like, “A twin?Can we pull this off?”‘

His character was murdered in the season one finale, so he was surprised when he received a call about being brought back as his own brother. 

He explained: ‘The guy is very different, much kinder and a nicer guy. It was great to play the contrast between those two guys.’ 

They also talked about him pulling off ‘the worm’ in a dance scene, though James felt that he made a ‘fool’ out of himself.

Meanwhile, James recently starred in the Sonic the Hedgehog movie and explained that he was convinced to appear in the video game adaptation by the clever script, which didn’t ‘underestimate the intelligence’ of youngsters.

Got A Showbiz Story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us , calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : That Harry Potter secret ‘sex scene’ is doing the rounds again 16 years after release – but fans are all over the spicy moment

MORE : Britney Spears and boyfriend Sam Asghari used workouts to stay connected while quarantined apart

James Marsden, the actor who plays Corny Collins, was also in another movie in 2007 with who as the leading lady?

Choose the right answer:

Do you have a moment to talk about my Lord and saviour, Corny Collins?

In 2007, the world was blessed with the best movie musical to date when Hairspray hit cinemas.

Based on the John Walters’ 1988 musical film of the same name, Hairspray was a star-studded, modern adaptation of the story of Tracy Turnblad, a plus-size high school student living in Baltimore in 1962, with a dream to dance on the local teen dance programme The Corny Collins Show.

For anyone who’s seen Hairspray, you’d know that the 2007 adaptation is the definition of a feel-good movie, full of uplifting and important messages around body positivity, racial injustice, and equality. I mean, even with all the barriers Tracy faced, she still ended up landing a spot on The Corny Collins Show and, as a result of some tweaks to the original plot, effectively led the show to racial integration in the ’60s.

But beyond the great storyline, flawless songs, and stand-out dance numbers, Hairspray‘s biggest strength is in it’s absolutely spot-on casting. With a mix of big names and first-time actors, Hairspray was made what it was by the actors who gave it their all.

Hairspray (2007) is not only the best movie musical of all time but the greatest casting in any movie ever and will only be beat if james marsden and zac efron are in another ‘60s era film together

— cambria (@ccambriaaa) February 8, 2019

The Most Perfectly Cast, Cast

Between John Travolta donning full drag to play Tracy’s agoraphobic and self-conscious plus-size mother, to Queen Latifah fully embodying the sassy and strong Motormouth Maybelle, to Nikki Blonsky nailing her professional acting debut with the character of Tracy Turnblad, the cast of Hairspray is pure excellence.

However, I would argue that the most perfectly cast characters are easily Link Larkin and Corny Collins, the film’s two leading men played by Zac Efron and James Marsden, respectively.

As the musical is set in the ’60s, Efron’s and Marsden’s suave looks, dark quiffs, self-assured energies, and piercing blue eyes give off a vibe that is so perfect for their roles.

For Link, as the teen heartthrob and narcissistic lead dancer on The Corny Collins Show, the character development from low-key piece of shit to Tracy’s new, selfless man, is a real joy to watch. But it’s made all that much better by that one strategically loose strand of hair that sits on Zac Efron’s forehead, and Efron’s general ability to just look… like that… all… the… time.

Ugh, not to be aggressively horny, but honestly Hairspray really was Zac Efron in his prime. And yes, I know he’s meant to be playing a 16-year-old high school student, but what the fuck. Why does he look so good? It makes no sense?!

no one:

actually fucking no one:

me: zac efron as link from hairspray will forever be the peak of the human male form pic.twitter.com/WzKrE2CiUT

— jack 🧸🦩 (@jacklikesdogs) May 23, 2019

But Corny Collins? Good Lord, Corny Collins.

While Joey McIntyre and Hugh Jackman were both also in the running for the role, the decision to go with James Marsden truly was the greatest casting decision ever made. In the history of film.

James Marsden played Corny SO well, it almost felt like we were all watching the real-life host of a real-life show about dancing teens. Marsden’s looks, attitude and general demeanour as Corny Collins just suited the plot and era so well.

And between his immaculate runs, unbelievably charming good looks, genuine friendship with Tracy Turnblad, and his surprisingly progressive attitudes, Corny Collins is still easily the best part of Hairspray — even 13 years on.

i feel like as a society we don’t talk much about how perfect the casting of james marsden as corny collins was in hairspray….. like he was perfect *mwah* pic.twitter.com/8uzpmN9043

— steph (@strangers2night) March 19, 2020

How do casting directors feel about the fact they will never accomplish a better job than James Marsden as Corny Collins in Hairspray

— brianna (@bribrisimps) June 22, 2020

The Superior Leading Man Was Corny Collins

Perhaps it’s because we’re all grown up now, but anyone with two eyes and at least three braincells would agree that Corny Collins is far superior to the actual leading man, Link Larkin.

Despite Tracy’s journey in the film serving as the main plot, which focused on her budding romance with Link, Corny Collins stole the show each and every time he was on screen.

Personally, I attribute this to Corny being progressive during a time where doing so was frowned upon, and because he seems like a good, kind person to everyone he met. Plus, he’s just very sexy. Ungodly so.

Adulthood is when you think James Marsden in Hairspray is more attractive then Zack Efron in Hairspray

— Julia Dirkes-Jacks (@JuliaGraceDJ) June 13, 2019

But really think about it. While Link needed convincing to stand up for the rights of Black people, Corny knew that it was the right thing to do the entire time.

For example, the raspy way he sings the word ‘white’ in the line “the nice white kids, who like to lead the way” during the ‘Nicest Kids In Town‘ at the start of the film, it’s very clear that Corny Collins knows there’s something incredibly wrong with the concept of an all-white cast with a once-a-month “Negro Day”.

And at the end of the film, Corny Collins crowns little Inez the winner of the Miss Teenage Hairspray, despite knowing that he’d likely get in trouble for doing so. Corny also drags Maybelle on stage in spite of Velma, and even declares The Corny Collins Show as fully integrated before getting permission from the stations execs to do so.

In conclusion, Corny Collins really was the best leading man on Hairspray, even though he wasn’t really a leading man at all. But don’t get it twisted: Corny Collins power all came down to how James Marsden acted his life away in the role, because when Shawn Thompson played Corny in the original 1988 version, it really didn’t hit the same way.

So unless Marsden in cast as Corny Collins for the rest of his life, there simply cannot be another Hairspray remake.

james marsden had no right to be that amazing in hairspray

— laura j. brown (@laurjbrown) January 12, 2020

everyone talks about zac efron in hairspray when james marsden is right there :/ pic.twitter.com/05iAcf0pL9

— َ (@Iapofthegods) July 18, 2020

I guess you can call it daddy issues or just the concept of having taste, but either way James Marsden as Corny Collins was just so fine. So unnecessarily sexy.

And not to be overly horny right now, but if you don’t believe me, try and listen to James Marsden do a perfect run with the line “that’s me” in ‘It’s Hairspray’ without getting turned on in three seconds flat.

idk how i’m expected to study and retain information when this one clip of james marsden in hairspray has taken up my entire brain capacity pic.twitter.com/R6DKSWqfV0

— kay (@kaylafalco) October 19, 2020

You’re welcome.