Jennifer Grey Says Nope to ‘Dirty Dancing’ Remake Role
Jennifer Grey may have had the time of her life back in mid-'80s, but the actress has said "no thank you" to a part in the upcoming Dirty Dancing TV movie remake.
Grey, who starred as Frances "Baby" Houseman in the 1987 classic, told The Hollywood Reporter that she had passed on a role in the remake project, which will star Abigail Breslin as Baby.
"I was asked to do something on that show and I was flattered because I always want to be asked because it's nice to want to be included. But for me, it would be sacrosanct for me to do it because it didn't feel appropriate to me," she told THR on August 7, after a Television Critics Association panel for Seson 2 of Amazon comedy Red Oaks, which Grey appears in.
"It feels like if you're going to do your own thing, do your own thing," Grey continued, though she declined to describe the nature of the part that was on the table. "I wouldn't say [what role was offered] but I will tell you, it wasn't Baby!"
Grey starred alongside Patrick Swazye, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2009. The daugher of Caberet star and TV/film actor Joel Grey, Jennifer had already had prominent roles in '80s hits Red Dawn and Ferris Bueller's Day Off before her breakthrough stint as Baby. She's continued to work in both live-action and animated projects over the years, including providing voices on Disney's Phineas and Ferb from 2008-2014.
ABC's three-hour TV movie is billed as a "musical re-imagining" of the film. It will also star Sarah Hyland as Baby's sister Lisa Houseman, Debra Messing as Baby's mother and Colt Prattes in Swayze's iconic role as Johnny Castle. No, we don't know who that is either, but we'll certainly find out whether Prattes and Breslin can nail that lift.
Though you won't see her in it, Grey said she's interested in what gems may come in the reboot. The script was written by Jessica Sharzer, who's penned episodes of American Horror Story as well as the film adaptation of the novel Speak starring Kristen Stewart.
"I think they've got wonderful actors in it. I'm going to be watching it and I'm excited," Grey told THR. "My only advice is to own it for yourself, because we all just do our interpretation and I'm only flattered and excited for people who are excited enough to put their stamp on it and see what they make of it and how they make it their own."
The Dirty Dancing TV movie has no release date as of yet.
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