Nikki Blonsky ('Hairspray') and Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) Nominated Actress Annie Potts ('Men in Trees') Star in the Lifetime Original Movie 'Queen Sized,' Inspired by the True Story of an Overweight Teen Who Takes a Stand Against Bullying, Defies Expectations and Becomes Homecoming Queen

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10 -- Following her leading role in the summer blockbuster "Hairspray," rising young actress Nikki Blonsky stars alongside Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) nominated actress Annie Potts ("Men in Trees") in the Lifetime Original Movie, "Queen Sized," the inspirational true story of an overweight teen who takes a stand against bullying, to become her school's homecoming queen, and ends up with much more than just a crown. "Queen Sized" premieres Saturday, January 12, 2008, 9PM (ET/PT) on Lifetime Television.

In "Queen Sized," overweight high school senior Maggie Baker (Blonsky), always felt sorry for herself for not being as skinny, pretty or wealthy as the popular girls at school. When Maggie's name ends up on the list of nominees for the homecoming court as a prank by her classmates, she is mortified. Rather than drop out as expected, with her mother Joan's (Potts) encouragement, Maggie chooses to stay on the ballot in to order represent all the "outcasts" at school. As word of her courageousness spreads, Maggie becomes a local celebrity and a symbol for all those who are bullied in high school. But when Maggie's new-found fame goes to her head, the kids who stood by her, including her best friend Casey, begin to resent her. Maggie is forced to take a long hard look at herself and reevaluate what battle she is truly fighting.

"Queen Sized" is produced by Starz Media for Lifetime Television. Frank Von Zerneck (Lifetime's "Haunting Sarah," "For One Night") and Bob Sertner (Lifetime's "Girl Positive," "We Were the Mulvaneys") serve as executive producers. Judy Cairo (Lifetime's "The Staircase Murders") and Christopher Morgan (Lifetime's "Fantasia Barrino: Life is Not a Fairy Tale") produced the movie. Peter Levin (Lifetime's "Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story") directed the movie from a story by Rodney Johnson and teleplay by Richard and Nora Kletter.

"Queen Sized" is the first of three titles to premiere as part of Lifetime's major international co-production deal with Starz Media. The deal follows Lifetime's first partnership with French broadcaster TF-1 International to produce and distribute three original television movies for worldwide release. For Starz Media, it's a continuation of the new studio's expansion into top-quality primetime movies, and marks a new production partner along with ABC, SCI FI Network, Cartoon Network, BET and Starz Entertainment, among others. Starz Media will handle worldwide distribution of the titles, including home entertainment through its Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Starz Media, LLC, is a programming production and distribution company operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay Entertainment, and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated and live-action programming -- including theatrical films -- and programming created under contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming, and programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers, theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels, and Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally. Starz Media is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation that is attributed to Liberty Capital Group.

LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. LIFETIME Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (including myLifetime.com) are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

SOURCE LIFETIME Networks
http://www.lifetimetv.com/