Jennifer Grey Turns 62 And Is Set To Release Her Memoir Soon To 'Take Back' Her 'Narrative'

Mar 27, 2022 by apost team

Actress Jennifer Grey catapulted to fame in the 1980s when she starred in "Dirty Dancing" opposite Patrick Swayze. The movie was an unexpected hit and pushed them both into the stratosphere. But while Swayze went on to have an illustrious career, Grey receded from the spotlight. Three decades after the movie's release, she began to open up about a tragic accident that changed the course of her life. 

Her career certainly didn't take the trajectory that many thought it would back in the '80s, but after periods out of the public eye, Grey returned to the spotlight in 2010 when she appeared in and won "Dancing with the Stars." Finally, Grey's career had its moment. Since then, she's taken on more acting roles including on the TV show "Red Oaks." 

This year is going to be a big one for the actress, with the release of her memoir "Out of the Corner" coming out in May 2022. She spoke to People in Sep. 2021 about how cathartic it was to tell her own story. She said:

"Writing Out of the Corner has been the one of the most gratifying things I've ever done ... It gave me the opportunity to slow down and unpack my story, to be more curious than certain about what I thought I knew, and through a lens of compassion, empathy, and, at times, absurdity."

It's set to be a big year for Grey, who turns 62 years old today. After she celebrated her 60th birthday in 2010, she spoke about feeling young and not worrying a lot about "chronological age." More than ever, it seems like Grey is only just getting started with her story.

A few years ago, Grey opened up about the incident that changed the course of her life. In the same month that "Dirty Dancing" was set to be released, Grey was involved in a tragic car accident when she was holidaying in Ireland with her then-boyfriend, Matthew Broderick. The couple wasn't yet public with their relationship, which they'd started after they met on the set of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." 

In a horrible turn of events, Broderick had driven their rental car on the wrong side of the road and they collided head-on with another vehicle, whose passengers were a mother and daughter who were instantly killed. Broderick fractured his leg and ribs and Grey walked away with minor injuries. Broderick was charged with dangerous driving but was eventually convicted of the lesser sentence, careless driving, and paid a small fine, but the damage was done.

Decades later Grey spoke of the incident with People Magazine, as reported by Irish Central. She talked about her newfound fame and how conflicted she felt with what she'd been through:

"I became America's sweetheart within five days of the accident. The juxtaposition of that deep sorrow, the survivor's guilt, and then being celebrated as the new big thing just didn't jibe. It didn't feel good to be the toast of the town."

She said her ambition was never the same after the accident, and she subsequently stepped out of the spotlight. Additionally, in the years that followed, Grey had two rhinoplasties — the second to correct problems from the first — that left her unrecognizable. Since people couldn't recognize her from her '80s roles, she had no luck landing major roles. She even considered changing her name to start her career anew but decided against it. In the next few decades, she laid low until things began to turn around in 2010 when she appeared on "Dancing With the Stars."

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Now, the actress is taking charge of her own story once more. She told People that writing "Out of the Corner" was a journey in "reclaiming her sense of self." She added:

"I think everybody should write the story of their life ... Take back your narrative. It's one of the most empowering things you can do. For yourself. For your kids. And not only is it a radical act of self-inquiry that can lead to really knowing yourself, but it can also shine a light on where it is you want to go."

When she turned 60 in 2020, Grey said it was "amazing" and that she doesn't "give too much weight to chronological age, even though the world wants to tell you it means something." She added that she knows lots of young people who "behave like they're ancient," while her grandmother who died at 93 was active and full of life. She added:

"I think that it’s all about how you live, not how long you live."

She also gave out some wisdom when she asked what she's learned with age. She said:

"Your self-esteem shouldn’t be attached to being perfect or judged ... What if we all just did what makes us happy? I think one of the things I’ve understood as I’ve gotten older is how little I care what other people think of me ... What I’m mostly concerned about is how I feel about myself."

Now that she's 62 and well and truly living her best life in her 60s, it appears that the best is truly yet to come for Grey. We can't wait to see the journey her life takes next.

Happy birthday to Jennifer Grey! What do you think about her wise words about getting older? Let us know your thoughts and pass this on to anyone who you think would appreciate reading it!