James Marsden sings praises of ‘Hairspray' and native state
James Marsden sings praises of 'Hairspray' and native state

By Matthew Price

Published: July 20, 2007

LOS ANGELES — To the casual observer, the based-on-the-comics "X-Men” films might not have much in common with the based-on-the-Broadway show "Hairspray” musical.

But Stillwater-born James Marsden, who played Cyclops in the three "X-Men” films and dance show host Corny Collins in "Hairspray,” said the films explore similar themes.

"This movie is really the ‘X-Men.' It's the outcasts, the people who are different, who become the heroes. Instead of retractable claws and laser beams, it's the Twist and the Mashed Potato — singing and dancing,” Marsden said.

In "Hairspray,” plus-size Tracy Turnblad follows her dreams to appear on "The Corny Collins Show,” a locally produced singing and dancing show for the teens of Baltimore. After landing the role, she pushes for racial integration of the show despite the disapproval of TV station manager Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer).

Marsden has a history in musicals dating to his days at Putnam City North High School.

"My junior year, I was in ‘Bye Bye Birdie,' but I didn't sing, because I didn't think I could. I just never tried, really,” Marsden said. "And then I joined the music program for the next year, and found out I could sing, somewhat, so they cast me in the lead of ‘Good News' as a senior.”

"Hairspray” is his first official musical since those days, though Marsden has sung in other roles.

"(It) was always something I did as a hobby. It would get incorporated into jobs not because of the character, but because a producer would find out that I could sing,” Marsden said. "So they'd write it into the TV show.”

Marsden sang on "Second Noah” and in his recurring role as Glenn Foy on "Ally McBeal.” And singing is in his future, as well: He'll sing in "Enchanted,” a live-action/animation hybrid from Disney in the fall.

Marsden said he thought "Hairspray” made for a nice change of pace from the action of "X-Men” and "Superman Returns.”

"I've always been aware of the fact that most people recognize me from the ‘X-Men' films. And as great as those have been for my career and for my mortgage payment, it's been fun to try and sort of prove to people that you can do something else. Just take that image and turn it upside down,” he said.

"My recent projects sort of dictate what I'm in the mood for next, or what I want to pursue or go after next,” Marsden said. "Having just done all of the ‘X-Men' movies, and ‘Superman,' I felt like it'd be great to do a great comedy, or something energetic and fun, and ‘Hairspray' was great for that. And I was lucky to be a part of it.”

Marsden said he wanted to show the behind-the-scenes strength of Corny Collins during the push for integration.

"I was concerned that he might just come off as an ornamental piece of the set. He's just the corny host, and that was it,” he said. "And so, I made a conscious decision to feed the duality of the character, even if it's just a few scenes here and there — when the Corny Collins cameras cut ..., he would be a normal guy with a real agenda and believe in this cause, and you genuinely saw that.”

Marsden remained cordial and charming after a long day of a dozen-plus press interviews. He credits his Oklahoma upbringing for his perspective on his success. He said he tries to visit the state a couple of times a year.

"I grew up in Oklahoma, and I feel really grateful for that, because it's given me a perspective on this business that I don't know if I would have had if I'd been raised even in Los Angeles,” Marsden said. "And that is the fact that it can go away at any second ... you're so lucky to be doing what you love to do and to be making a living at it. So I don't know any other way to be, really. It would be an effort for me to be a difficult, egotistical actor. ... I enjoy it too much; that's what people think is down-to-earth, I guess.”

Marsden said at some point he'd like to find a project for which he could step behind the camera as a director.

"Photography has been a hobby of mine for a very long time. I've sort of immersed myself in the science of light and photography,” he said. "When I'm on set, I'm always asking the camera operator and the cinematographer questions. You learn how much of it is not about what you're doing.

"That's something that ultimately I would like to do, I just don't know what that would be. I just have to find a good script and go after it. I would be afraid it might be a little too self-indulgent to direct and to be in it.”

And while Marsden's Cyclops apparently perished in "X-Men: The Last Stand,” Marsden doesn't rule out eventually returning to the role should an "X-Men 4” become a reality. That's because, in the comics, X-Men often don't stay dead.

"I learned that from the fans, actually, after ‘X-Men 3,'” Marsden said. "They'd say, ‘We didn't see you on camera ... you could come back.' There were people coming up to me with these explanations ... so who knows? I'd love to be a part of it, sure.”

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