By Ernio Hernandez
31 Jul 2007

Nikki Blonsky
photo by Aubrey Reuben

Nikki Blonsky — who plays Tracy Turnblad in the new "Hairspray" film — has been cast in the teen comedy "Harold," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Ally Sheedy and Colin Quinn have also joined the cast that includes Spencer Breslin and Cuba Gooding Jr. T. Sean Shannon directs from a script he penned with Greg Fields.

"I read a bunch of scripts after 'Hairspray,' but this was really funny and had so much life in it," Blonsky told the publication. "I'm playing an outcast again, but not necessarily because of the whole 'plus size' thing. It's because my character marches to the beat of her own drummer."

Blonsky — who made her debut in the movie musical "Hairspray" — will play the nerdy best friend of the title teen (Breslin), who happens to be balding. Sheedy will play the mother of the boy who befriends the school janitor (Gooding, Jr.).

Filming has already begun on the project in Blonsky's hometown of Great Neck, NY. The film is slated for a 2008 release.

Sheedy, last seen Off-Broadway in The Triple Happiness, also appeared onstage as the first female star of the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch as well as in The Exonerated and Advice From A Caterpillar. The actress is known for her film work in "The Breakfast Club," "St. Elmo's Fire," "Short Circuit," "High Art" and "War Games," among others.