Jennifer Grey, a 60-year-old actress known for her role as Frances “Baby” Houseman in the 1987 movie “Dirty Dancing”, is reportedly set to star in and executive produce a new dance movie with Lionsgate. This news has many fans of the original film excited about the possibility of Grey returning to the role that made her an international celebrity.
Grey’s breakout role as “Baby” Houseman, opposite Patrick Swayze’s character, Johnny Castle, made her a global sensation over three decades ago. However, Grey’s life since then has been filled with ups and downs, including a traumatic accident, several surgeries, and a divorce.
In 1987, just nine days before the release of “Dirty Dancing”, Grey was involved in a devastating car accident in Ireland with her then-boyfriend, actor Matthew Broderick. The accident killed two people and seriously injured both Grey and Broderick. Despite being in the wrong lane at the time of the collision, Broderick was found guilty of dangerous driving and fined.
Grey suffered a severe concussion and torn ligaments in the back of her head, which caused her to experience pain for the rest of her life and ultimately led to her being unable to dance for long periods of time. The actress tried everything from massage to hot and cold therapy, and anti-inflammatory pads to alleviate her pain.
To make matters worse, Grey underwent two nose jobs in the early 1990s, which caused some of her close friends to fail to recognize her. The actress claimed that the extreme change made her feel like she was “under witness protection or being undetected.” Grey even considered changing her name to start her career anew.
Despite these challenges, Grey has managed to maintain her career in the entertainment industry. She married actor Clark Gregg in 2001, and the couple had one child, Stella, before announcing their divorce earlier this month.
In 2009, Grey appeared on “Dancing with the Stars”, America’s equivalent of “Strictly Come Dancing”, where she underwent surgery to stabilize her neck and treat a compressed spinal cord. During her surgery, doctors discovered a small cancerous nodule on her thyroid gland, causing concern. Fortunately, Jennifer has remained cancer-free since the tumor was removed.
Now, Grey is set to star in and executive produce a new dance movie with Lionsgate, a move that has left many fans of the original film excited about her potential return to the dance floor. Despite the challenges and setbacks that she has faced in her life, Grey’s talent and determination have helped her overcome adversity and continue to pursue her dreams.