When you think of a Baltimore housewife with a laundry basket and a heart of gold, you probably don't immediately picture a 300-pound drag queen or a Hollywood leading man known for disco dancing. Yet, that’s exactly what happened. The character of Edna Turnblad is a bit of a theatrical anomaly. Since the late '80s, she’s become one of the most coveted roles in musical history, but there’s a catch. She’s almost always played by a man.
Honestly, it’s a weird tradition if you think about it. But it works. It works so well that the list of actors who played Edna Turnblad reads like a "who’s who" of comedy and stage legends. From the grimy underground cinema of John Waters to the bright lights of Broadway and multi-million dollar movie sets, Edna has seen it all.
The Original: Divine and the John Waters Era
Back in 1988, before Hairspray was a glittery Broadway hit, it was a gritty, low-budget cult film. John Waters, the "Pope of Trash," cast his childhood friend Harris Glenn Milstead—better known as the drag superstar Divine—to play Edna.
This wasn't just a gimmick. Divine played Edna with a sort of weary, working-class dignity that grounded the movie’s absurdity. Tragically, Divine died only three weeks after the film’s release. He never got to see how massive the character would become. But he set the template. He wasn't playing a "man in a dress" for cheap laughs; he was playing a mother. That distinction is basically the secret sauce of the character. If you play the joke, you lose the heart.
Harvey Fierstein: The Broadway Revolution
When the movie was adapted into a musical in 2002, the creators knew they had to honor Divine's legacy. Enter Harvey Fierstein. With that gravelly, unmistakable voice, Fierstein didn't just play Edna—he redefined her for the stage.
He won a Tony Award for the role, and for good reason. Fierstein brought a certain "wink" to the performance, but he also made the relationship between Edna and her husband Wilbur (originally played by Dick Latessa) feel incredibly real. You actually believed these two were crazy about each other.
Since Fierstein, the Broadway stage has seen a revolving door of talent in the housecoat:
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- George Wendt: Yep, Norm from Cheers actually stepped into Edna’s heels in 2007.
- Bruce Vilanch: The legendary comedy writer took the role on tour and on Broadway.
- Michael McKean: You might know him from Better Call Saul or Spinal Tap, but he was a fantastic Edna.
- John Pinette: The stand-up comedian brought a huge amount of physical comedy to the part.
The John Travolta Transformation
Then came the 2007 movie musical. This was the big one. When it was announced that John Travolta would be the one who played Edna Turnblad, people lost their minds. It was a massive risk. Travolta hadn't done a musical since Grease, and now he was doing it in a fat suit and a wig.
Travolta took a different approach than Divine or Fierstein. He didn't want the "wink." He wanted the audience to forget they were watching a man. He spent five hours a day in makeup and insisted on a silhouette that looked like "Sophia Loren gone-to-flesh." His Edna was softer, more vulnerable, and surprisingly light on her feet. Watching Danny Zuko do the "Timeless to Me" dance with Christopher Walken is still one of the most surreal and charming moments in modern cinema.
Crossing the Pond: Michael Ball and the West End
Over in London, the role took on a life of its own too. Michael Ball, a titan of British musical theater, took on the role in 2007 and again in recent revivals. He won an Olivier Award for it. Ball’s Edna is often cited as one of the funniest versions because he leans into the "British Dame" tradition of pantomime while keeping the American Baltimore soul of the character alive.
Why Always a Man?
It's a question that comes up a lot. Why can't a woman play Edna?
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The show's creators actually have a rule about this. In 2020, they clarified that the role must be cast as written—which means a male actor in drag. John Waters once said the reason is simple: the characters in the story don't know Edna is a man. It’s a secret shared between the actors and the audience. It adds a layer of "outsider" energy to the Turnblad family that mirrors the show's themes of integration and acceptance. If Edna is "different" and accepted, it makes Tracy’s fight for others to be accepted feel even more poignant.
A Legacy of Housecoats and Hairspray
The list of actors continues to grow. We've seen Nina West (of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame) take the role on national tours, bringing it back to its literal drag roots. We saw Harvey Fierstein return to the role for Hairspray Live! in 2016, proving he’s still the gold standard for many fans.
The magic of Edna Turnblad isn't in the costume or the novelty of the casting. It's in the fact that she represents every mother who ever felt like the world passed her by, only to find her groove again through the love of her kid. Whether it’s Travolta’s soft-spoken charm or Divine’s grit, Edna remains the heartbeat of Baltimore.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Edna Turnblad, start by comparing the three "pillars" of the performance. Watch the original 1988 film to see Divine's raw performance, then find the 2007 musical movie for Travolta's high-budget take. Finally, listen to the 2002 Original Broadway Cast recording to hear how Harvey Fierstein used his voice to create a character that feels both massive and intimate. Checking out local touring productions is also a great way to see how new actors are putting their own spin on the Baltimore shuffle.