From rags to riches to rags again! Nikki Blonsky, the chubby lead that stared along side Zac Efron, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer and John Travolta in the blockbuster musical movie Hairspray is having such a hard time landing roles that she’s found her self working as a helper at a salon. That’s one big fall!

After Hairspray we saw Blonsky in Ugly Betty and even staring in her own short-lived ABC Family show Huge, but since then she’s been floundering in her auditions so badly that she’s moved back home to Great Neck and has been spotted by several fans sweeping hair, cleaning mirrors and tidying up the salon magazines.

Apparently the actress got her cosmetology license and is trying to work as a make-up artist in the Long Island salon, but because of the lack of people walking through the doors for make overs, the one-time star is left cleaning the place up after the hairstylists work their magic.

“I was in the salon having my hair done and I saw her working there,” a salon client told Radar Online. “I couldn’t believe it. She was sweeping up hair but also doing people’s make up.”

Looks like the economy isn’t only tough on us common folk! At least Nikki is keeping a positive attitude. Check out what she has to say about her new job below!