Ricki Lake never in her wildest dreams thought she’d be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film “Hairspray” at the lofty Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif.

“I never thought the movie was going to come out, let alone have this life span. And for me to be alive 30 years later, for me to be turning 50 in two months ... you know, it’s all kind of surreal,” she said.

Most of the film’s surviving stars, as well as its writer-director John Waters, gathered Monday at the Academy for a special screening of the film, hosted by Oscar-winning Barry Jenkins , the writer-director of “Moonlight.”

Jenkins was just 8 when the film was released, but he said his parents were big fans of the period comedy, set in 1962 Baltimore. It’s about a teen-dance TV show that is rocked when a short, plump dynamo — the adorable Tracy Turnblad — unseats Amber Von Tussle, the nasty blond beauty who long has been the reigning queen. Turmoil ensues when Tracy suggests producers stop limiting black dancers’ appearances and pushes for the show to be fully integrated.

— Associated Press