Jennifer Gray didn’t have the time of her life after undergoing two nose jobs that left her unrecognizable.
The “Dirty Dancing” star is releasing her “deeply heartfelt” memoir Out of the Corner on May 3. The title refers to the film’s famous line, “No one puts baby in a corner.”
And Grey, 62, recently spoke to People about the 1987 flick and how she decided to get a nose job after its release — at the urging of her own mother.
“She loves me, has loved me, always loved me, and she was pragmatic because she said, ‘You know what? It’s too hard to cast you. Make it easier for them.” And then I did it, and she was right,” Gray told the outlet.
But after her second rhinoplasty, the self-proclaimed “anti-rhinoplasty” actress found herself at a premiere with Michael Douglas — who didn’t even recognize her.
Jennifer Gray will release her memoir on May 3rd.
“It was the first time I went public. And it became the thing, the idea of being completely invisible from one day to the next. In the eyes of the world, I wasn’t me anymore. and the weird thing was that I’ve fought it my whole life, and that’s what made me so mad at my mom for telling me to blow my nose,” Gray said.
“I really thought it was a surrender. I really thought it meant surrendering to the enemy camp. I just thought, ‘I’m good enough. I shouldn’t have to do that.’ I really felt that. ‘I’m beautiful enough.’”
The Jewish New Yorker’s mother told her it would be easier to cast her if she did her job. Getty Images
The star’s mother, actress Jo Wilder, wasn’t the only one who suggested Gray change her looks; Her friend and frequent Studio 54 companion Andy Warhol even mentioned her nose in the index of his book, which Gray called “so humiliating” and “mean.”
“It was like, ‘And, you know, I would look at Jennifer. I’d be wondering, do you know why she… um, her dad had a nose job. Why wouldn’t he make sure she has one, too,’” Gray recalled.
The “Dirty Dancing” actress was “anti-rhinoplasty” growing up. moviemagic
“It’s like everywhere I went I was like, ‘Wait. Forgiveness. I am a person with different traits and other amazing qualities. Why is everyone so screwed up?’” she added. “I’m always shocked by the meanness of people.”
In the memoir, Gray also opens up about her lack of chemistry with “Dirty Dancing” co-star Patrick Swayze, her relationship with her “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” co-star Matthew Broderick, and her “Campfire” relationship with Johnny Depp.
Gray isn’t the first star to open up about her nose job; Khloé Kardashian recently revealed that her “only regret” about getting the rhinoplasty was not going under the knife sooner.
Jennifer Gray and her Dirty Dancing co-star Patrick Swayze at the film’s premiere. Ron Galella Collection via Getty