Ricki Lake

Host

A pop culture icon who has built a career on her candid, “straight talk” sensibility and her authentic, relatable nature, Ricki Lake has maintained a worldwide fan base that is a true cross-section of age and ethnicity. Her approachable appeal has charmed international movie and television audiences for more than two decades, and she has managed to reinvent herself at every stage of her career. As “Tracy Turnblad,” the zaftig heroine of the original John Waters’ film Hairspray, Lake made an acting debut that positioned her as an “entertainer to watch’ in Hollywood. Later, with a surprise turn as a talk show host, she met with unprecedented success and earned her place as a beloved media personality across the globe.

Making a much-anticipated return to TV with an all-new talk show in September 2012, Lake also completed work on a memoir, Never Say Never: Finding a Life that Fits, for Simon & Schuster’s Atria imprint,. She has also become an online voice for mothers, providing editorial contributions to outlets including “Momformation” – all while showcasing her dancing ability as a beloved finalist on Season 13 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

The original Ricki Lake continues to air in countries around the world, a testament to the global appeal and timelessness of the host’s one-of-a-kind style.