Who Is Maddie Baillio? Meet The ‘Hairspray Live’ Tracy Turnblad Actress Before Premiere

Maddie Baillio went from college theater productions to the big time, scoring the leading role in NBC’s “Hairspray Live!” The 20-year-old Houston native will show off her dancing and singing talents on Wednesday’s premiere, but before you meet the nicest kids in town, get to know the up and coming star!

An ad on Facebook announcing an open casting call for the role of Tracy Turnblad on the NBC special led Baillio to try out for the part. Despite her nerves almost getting the best of her with it being her first professional audition, Baillio headed to New York City, waking up at 3 a.m. in the hopes of being one of the first in line. She arrived at the casting event only to find she was No. 343 with over a thousand girls vying for the same coveted part.

After four call-backs, an even an admitted blunder of the lyrics for “Good Morning Baltimore” during one go around, Baillio discovered she was going to lead the TV musical. The casting announcement happened one day after she completed her sophomore year in college. “I’ve always wanted to do musical theater, I’ve always wanted to be on Broadway, and so it’s really cool that I’m pretty much going to be on Broadway on TV,” Baillio said in an NBC interview.

Despite being a big fan of “Hairspray’s” heroin, Baillio never played the Baltimore singing sensation before landing the NBC show. She told to Press Pass LA that her last role was playing Dracula in “Dracula: The Musical.” “This was one of my dream roles because Tracy is the ultimate underdog and the ultimate optimist and I relate to her in so many ways,” Baillio explained to Siruis XM last month.

Speaking to her co-star and on-screen mother Harvey Feinstein in a cast sit-down recently, Baillio dished about her teenage self. Baillio revealed she was heavily involved in choir and theater in school but did have a history of cutting class. She considered herself to be “cool” in her friend group, but also admitted to having a big crush on “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson.

“Robert Pattinson as Edward,” Baillio shared when asked to name what poster would be on her wall as a teen. “It’s a whole wall. Just of him.”

You can follow Maddie on YouTube (There are no videos currently uploaded to her channel), Instagram and Twitter. Don’t forget to tune into “Hairspray Live!” Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on NBC.