After being asked several times in the past, actress Elaine Hendrix decided that the 34th season of Dancing With The Stars was the perfect moment to finally say yes. The star, best known for her role in The Parent Trap, shared that a unique combination of career momentum and personal readiness led her to seize the opportunity this year.
The Right Moment After Years of Hesitation
In a recent interview, Elaine Hendrix opened up about her long-awaited decision to join the popular dance competition. She revealed that producers had approached her to be on the show during previous seasons, but the timing never felt right until now.
“This was not the first time I was asked to do the show, but this was the right time,” Hendrix stated. “I did it now because I feel like it was a whole combination of things. It was one of these things, first and foremost, like, if I don’t do it now, when will I do it? I may never get this chance again.”
Hendrix connected her participation to a significant period in her professional life. She had just finished promoting her seventh Disney movie, Freakier Friday, and was also involved with The Parent Trap parody, Ginger Twinsies. She felt that the “forces of pop culture” were aligning, making it the ideal moment to return to her performing roots.
Her consideration also involved a practical look at her physical capabilities. She considered that her body might not be at the same capacity in the future, making now the best time to take on such a physically demanding challenge.
“My body might not be at the capacity that it is even now. Years ago, when they had asked me, who knows what it would have been like then. But I just felt like at this point in my life, at this point in my career, it was an opportunity that I really wanted to have,” Hendrix added.
A Powerful Return to Dance
Hendrix’s journey on the show is a powerful return to form. She began her career as a dancer, but a serious car accident years ago forced her to stop training and performing at a high level. Dancing With The Stars has served as a way to rekindle her passion for dance.
“I began my career as a dancer and due to a car accident, I had to stop training to the extent that I was. I mean, I was performing at a very high level, training at a very high level, and I had to give all that up. I literally feel like Dancing With The Stars aligned right now,” she explained.
This season has not been without its challenges. Hendrix suffered a rib injury during her “Defying Gravity” routine on Wicked Night, which forced her to miss the Halloween episode. She was taken to the hospital after her ribs “seized up” and she could not move. Despite this setback, she was determined to continue.
“I want to dance, I want to keep doing this,” she said from her hospital bed. Doctors assured her that with a day or two of rest, she would be able to continue in the competition, which she did the following week.
A Message of Inspiration
Throughout the competition, Hendrix has used her platform to share a message about not letting age define one’s capabilities. She has been open about her goal to prove that life and passion do not have an expiration date.
“I want to prove to myself and prove to other women that age is just a number. It doesn’t matter,” she told co-host Julianne Hough after her first dance.
She has spoken emotionally about the unpredictability of life and the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise. For Hendrix, the show is more than just a competition; it’s a chance to inspire others.
“This life, the business, all of it, is unpredictable. And you don’t plan these moments, they present themselves, and you either take advantage of them or you don’t,” Hendrix shared. “I wanted to take advantage of this.”
She has also learned to push through both physical and mental barriers, a lesson emphasized by her professional partner, Alan Bersten. Before her “Defying Gravity” routine, she felt unsure but was encouraged by Bersten’s belief in her.
“I literally said to Alan, I don’t know if I can do this. I was in tears,” Hendrix admitted. “He said to me, I know you can. And he didn’t let me quit on myself.”
Her best friend and former co-star, Lisa Ann Walter, has been a constant supporter, often cheering her on from the audience. Walter has been vocal about her pride in Hendrix’s accomplishments, especially as a woman competing in her 50s.
“She can’t say that, but I can,” Walter joked, arguing that Hendrix had been underscored for most of her performances. “She is truly good. Her teacher is a big part of the reason. Alan teaches her legit ballroom.”
Hendrix and Bersten have become a fan-favorite pair, consistently impressing viewers with their technically strong and emotionally charged performances. Their hard work paid off when they earned their first 10 of the season for a Viennese waltz on Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night, proving that her decision to finally join the competition was indeed the right one.
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