Jennifer Grey: ‘I was offered role in Dirty Dancing remake’

Actress Jennifer Grey turned down the chance to be part of the cast for the Dirty Dancing TV movie.
The star, who portrayed Baby Houseman in the original 1987 film, reveals she was asked to “do something” in the upcoming project, in which Abigail Breslin takes on her old role – and she said no.
“I was flattered because I always want to be asked because it’s nice to want to be included,” she told The Hollywood Reporter, “but for me, it would be sacrosanct for me to do it because it didn’t feel appropriate to me.
“It feels like if you’re going to do your own thing, do your own thing.”
Grey refused to say what role she was offered, but joked, “I will tell you, it wasn’t Baby!”
The TV movie adapted from the original by Emmy Award-nominated writer Jessica Sharzer also features Star Trek actor Bruce Greenwood and Debra Messing as Baby’s parents, and newcomer Colt Prattes as Johnny Castle, the role originated by the late Patrick Swayze.
“I am always interested in any iteration of something where they feel there’s more to be gotten and I would love to see what it is that they come up with,” Grey added. “I think they’ve got wonderful actors in it. I’m going to be watching it and I’m excited. 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.”
During her appearance as part of the Red Oaks panel on Sunday (07Aug16) at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour, Grey recalled filming Dirty Dancing three decades ago, revealing co-star Swayze “smelled really good”, adding, “His skin was really nice. He was really strong and he was very protective and his heart was very much in it.
“He was a great dancer and he was fearless. His fearlessness with my fearfulness – like his lack of Jewishness and my super Jewishness – together was like a marriage where you have two opposites. He’d do anything and I’d be scared to do anything.”