This ‘Grease’ Actress Had To Dye Her Hair After She Started Going Gray Before Ditching Hollywood & Returning 20 Years Later

Dec 17, 2024 by apost team

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Playing the role of Jan, one of the Pink Ladies from the iconic 1978 musical “Grease,” Jamie Donelly was one of Hollywood’s rising actresses at the time who looked set for success and longevity in the limelight. Donnelly seemed born for the stage and to amaze audiences on the big and small screen. The actress first made a name for herself in musicals, finding her big break in “The Rocky Horror Show” before going on to star in the musical version of “Tarzan.” 

Before she embodied the role of Jan on screen, Donnelly first charmed “Grease” audiences with her performance in the stage version on Broadway. When the chance to reprise the role on screen presented itself, the vibrant brunette actress was initially hesitant, but her manager encouraged her to give it a try. The same manager can also be applauded for ensuring that John Travolta was part of the ensemble that made the hit musical one of cinema’s most unforgettable films. Because Donnelly wasn’t sure that the big screen was for her, she initially only signed a six-month contract for the role of Jan, even though the producers wanted a year-long commitment. 

However, the role grew on her, and before she knew it, she started feeling like she was born to play the role and fell in love with it. Her tenure on the show was to come to a bitter end after she was abruptly fired because the actress originally intended for the role had been recast. Years later, she would go on to be recast for the role, even though she hadn’t recovered from the humiliation of her unceremonious firing seven years prior. Read on to discover even more interesting behind-the-scenes facts and details about Donnelly during this time.

Since becoming a box-office hit, Jamie Donnelly has looked back on her “Grease” days with fondness and gratitude, despite her initial reservations about auditioning for the role of Jan after she had been fired. She reminisced on expressing her feelings during this hurtful period and her unwillingness to give the role another try to her manager, saying:

“I said, ‘I don’t wanna go near that thing again.’ And he said, ‘You ought to give it a shot.’”

However, her ability to shake off the previous disappointment landed her the role that she would always be remembered for. In February 2021, the actress appeared on the podcast “Looking Deep With Kareem Mortimer,” where she gushed about the unexpected success of the movie. 

“What we brought with ‘Grease’ is something that means a lot to people and I’m very happy that I got to do that,” she said.

Donnelly also expressed joy at the success of the movie, grateful to be the face people remember when they think of the character Jan. It may also come as a surprise to many that the actress’ hair began graying prematurely, and she had to dye it black to play the young role. The movie catapulted its cast to success, but Donnelly intentionally stepped out of the limelight afterward. For almost two decades, she chose to focus on her family. She eventually made a comeback with movies like “Can’t Hardly Wait” and “Black Mass.”

Donnelly married Stephen H. Foreman, an actor and screenwriter. Together, they had two children, and the 77-year-old actress is now a loving grandmother who dotes on her family. Today, she works as an acting coach. Her silver hair continues to adorn her timelessly beautiful face. Despite staying away from the spotlight, she still shares her gift with a new generation of actors and remains an unforgettable icon. 

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Did you find the character of Jan from “Grease” memorable? What do you think of Jamie Donnelly’s decision to step black from the limelight for her family? Let us know your thoughts, and then pass this on to friends and family!