Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

"Hairspray" star Nikki Blonsky reports filming the Lifetime Original Movie "Queen Sized" proved to be cathartic for her.

"It was a really cleansing experience," says the plus-sized actress who plays Maggie Baker, an overweight teen who takes a stand against bullying and ends up homecoming queen in the inspirational tale premiering Jan. 12. "In order to play a character like that, you have to look into your own fears and insecurity. I found just getting into that core and really finding my own life experiences would help me get to Maggie's places of confusion and fear. I felt like I got so much off my chest just by playing Maggie."

Blonsky says she initially jumped at the chance to star in "Queen Sized" because "it was a drama and a true story, two things I'd never done before. And the fact that every kid — whether they're thin, tall, plus size, short — everybody has their own insecurities and is at one time in life teased. I was teased, so I really wanted to play a character that went through this so I can show kids it's OK. I wanted this movie to be an avenue for them to turn to. It's a wonderful picture about learning to love and accepting who you are."

THE BIG SCREEN SCENE: George Clooney truly put himself to the test with his upcoming "Leatherheads" flick, in which he plays a rough-and-tumble 1920s football star — complete with fisticuffs and falls.

"It was a very physically demanding role for him because he'd hurt his neck," notes cast mate Stephen Root, referring to Clooney's 2005 accident during the filming of "Syriana." The chair he was strapped into for a torture scene was kicked, and he fell backward and hit his head, tearing the dura, the membrane that surrounds the spine and brain and holds in the spinal fluid. It caused him excruciating headaches and necessitated surgery. `

"He had to be very careful," Root continues, "but he knew exactly what he wanted to do, and he did it. He was sore, like everyone else, but he did it, which is really amazing considering he was also directing. He'd be getting in and out of wet jerseys while setting up shots."

Still, the Oscar winner, who is in awards contention again this year with "Michael Clayton," found a moment to exercise his famous penchant for practical jokes on the romantic comedy with Renee Zellweger and John Krasinski.

"He did one at the end of the film.

This whole film is mud-bowl football," notes Root. "These actors got completely covered with mud at all times. George told them, 'You know, I need one more shot,' so they got dressed, got totally in the mud, ready to go, and then he said, 'Nah! I don't need it,' and walked away, just to prank 'em."

Root couldn't be more appreciative of Clooney, who "told me after 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' that he'd find something fun for us to do together. True to his word, he came up with this." The "King of the Hill" actor plays Clooney's "drunken sidekick." Root — currently on the big screen in "No Country for Old Men" — has a feature coming out each month the beginning of this New Year. On Jan. 18, it's "Mad Money" with Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes and Diane Keaton. On Feb. 1, it's "Over Her Dead Body," and on March 21, it's "Drillbit Taylor" with Owen Wilson. "Leatherheads" is due in April.

MULTI-TALENTED: Chris Warren Jr., who plays basketball player/wannabe baker Zeke Baylor in the "High School Musical" movies, is a passionate football player (linebacker and running back) in real-life high school. As far as his future is concerned, he says, "I might play in college and see what happens, but I'm probably going to go with the acting." He adds, "I think it's more of a guarantee for me."

Warren, who'll turn 18 on Jan. 15, was actually playing basketball with some friends when he got his first dose of "High School Musical" fan attention after the first telepic came out — a girl walked onto the court with "the CD and DVDs and all this stuff for me to sign. I was trying to keep it low-key and just keep playing," he recalls. But he doesn't mind fan attention. "That's what we do, and that's why we do it — for the recognition and to be role models for kids." Chris is hoping, by the way, that his character and Ashley Tisdale's Sharpay have "more of a relationship" in the next "HSM" movie because he has "such a crush on her."

AND: Another "HSM" cast member, Ryne Sanborn, tells us his most memorable fan encounter so far came when "a girl who knew I drive a Ford Mustang GT followed me all the way home from an event — about 45 minutes back to my home — to get an autograph." It was a little jarring, admits Sanborn.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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