Elaine Hendrix on DWTS Injury, Fan Support, Future Performances

Elaine Hendrix has emerged as one of the shining jewels of Dancing With the Stars’ 34th season, serving as a beacon of light amid the noise surrounding the competitive reality show. 

The Parent Trap star joined the cast following her turn in Freakier Friday, which Hendrix tells The Hollywood Reporter was one of the factors that led to her ultimately saying yes to the opportunity. 

“This was not the first time I was asked (to do DWTS), but this was the right time,” she says. “I felt like the forces of pop culture were really behind me.”

Partnered with Alan Bersten, viewers quickly grew enamored with Hendrix’s driven spirit. On the show, she’s opened up about a car accident she endured years ago that changed her life and halted her career as a dancer.

So when she missed season 34’s Halloween Night due to a rib injury, viewers particularly rallied behind the actress. Hendrix hasn’t let the setback halt her DWTS journey, which has shed light on her tenacious spirit. Now that she’s returned to the competition, her goal is to make it to the finale. 

“The one thing through all of this that I’ve learned (is), as hard as this is — and it’s really hard — any pain that you experience through the process is going to be temporary,” Hendrix says, continuing, “But being proud of yourself is for the rest of your life.” 

Ahead of DWTS’ 20th anniversary episode, Hendrix chatted with THR about where she’s at with her injury, why she’s used her time on the show to display the “power of female friendships,” how the experience has “rekindled” her love for dance and what it would mean for her to become the oldest winner of the competition ever. 

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How does the preparation and performance process for Dancing With the Stars differ from working on the set of a TV show or movie?

(DWTS is) a TV show, so there are elements of the production that are similar. We have camera blocking, we have fittings, we go through hair and makeup — all of that is the same. Because the disciplines are different, it’s really more about the preparation process itself. Sometimes film and television projects have rehearsal days, sometimes they don’t. When it comes to the actual discipline of the dancing, it’s far more like theater. We spend hours and hours and hours rehearsing and preparing to then go into this television environment and perform it live.

Was this the first time you were asked to do Dancing With the Stars, and if not, why was this the right time for you to compete on the show?

This was not the first time I was asked to do the show, but this was the right time. And 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. 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. 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. I just finished promoting Freakier Friday, which was my seventh movie for Disney, you know, (the) ABC family. I was promoting Ginger Twinsies, which was a parody of The Parent Trap. So I just felt like the forces of pop culture were really behind me.

You’re going to be dancing with mirrorball champion Rashad Jennings during the relay dances this week. What has it been like getting to work with him? 

Oh my gosh, he exudes such incredible energy. He’s so positive and he picked up the steps lightning fast. He’s smart, he’s so fantastic in interviews. I’ve been plying him with questions about the whole process and getting to the finale. He’s so warm and generous, I love him. I think our strong suit, what we’re really gonna be bringing, is showmanship. He lights up the room. That’s the comment that I keep getting, because I can really perform the dances. And so I think together, that’s what we’re gonna do —we’re gonna perform.

Has he offered you any specific piece of advice that has stood out? 

He really affirmed, like, it’s so important at this stage of the game, I have got to keep the noise out. That’s what he called it — you got to keep the noise out. And he said the way to do that is to really stay in love with the process, really dive into the song, dive into my partner and keep all the other noise out. And that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.

Your message the whole season has been about inspiring people to not ever let age hold you back. What has it been like to return to dance and receive this (positive) reception to your appearance on Dancing With the Stars?

Oh gosh, it literally makes me emotional every time I talk about it (pauses)— because 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. I wanted to take advantage of this, and I want to keep it in perspective. It is a television show, but for me, everything I do is about feeding into purpose, feeding into — as corny as it can sound — making the world a better place. I’m a big activist, and so now more than ever, this is a fabulous platform to be able to spread some really great messages. And I really do want women — everyone, it’s just since I happen to be a woman — it’s especially for women to (know), please don’t think it’s ever over, because it’s not. And it doesn’t have to be Dancing With the Stars level. Just take that one step again. The one thing through all of this that I’ve learned (is), as hard as this is — and it’s really hard — any pain that you experience through the process is going to be temporary, but being proud of yourself is for the rest of your life.

Another huge moment for you was your Wicked Night number to “Defying Gravity.” Looking back, what does that dance signify to you?

That was a real pivotal moment, because it was our first dance that we were doing lifts and tricks. I was literally going off the ground, and I was like Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t done this in a long time. I don’t really know if I can do this. And Alan, to his credit and to my benefit, has believed in me many steps before I believed in myself. He has the vision, he sees it and he holds me to it, and he won’t let me quit myself. So I can get scared, I can try to talk him out of certain things, and then he pushes me. And I do it, and then I say, “Again! Let’s do it again. Let’s go for it!” He’s been so instrumental in that. So for that dance in particular, the song is big, the moment in the musical and the movie is so big, and we really fought to make sure we could fill it and honor it in the best way. I dug deep, I fought hard. Oh, and man, was it worth it.

A lot of viewers believe that you have been underscored and underrated in the eyes of the judges this season. Do you agree that you have been underrated on Dancing With the Stars this season?

I literally don’t know on what basis they’re scoring things. I don’t know the scoring process. I don’t understand it. I don’t know what the criteria by which they’re judging things, and I focus more on their comments, on their critiques. Because when (they give) constructive criticism, that’s something I can take and go work on. And then when it’s positive, well, that for me is just affirmation. I can’t control what they give me. I’m such in a bubble and so focused on this work, I’ve put my entire life on hold because I want to make sure that I’m strong in the rehearsal hall, on the dance floor. I’m spending a lot of time in recovery, so this is all consuming for me right now, and how to measure and how to gauge how the rest of the world is experiencing it, I really don’t think I’m going to fully be able to do that until it’s all over.

When you got injured, did you ever have a moment where you thought that you were going to potentially have to exit the competition? 

Only when it first happened. I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t want to be injured, you know, I didn’t want to miss the dance. I didn’t want to be kicked off the show. I didn’t want to go to the hospital. It was a whole swirl of things, that I was just like, No, no, no, no, no, this cannot be happening. And while I’m deeply sad and disappointed I didn’t get to do that dance, because I felt so ready for it, I’m really grateful that we had everything properly checked out. Because in the moment, it was so serious and I didn’t know what was going on. But then I got X-rays and an EKG and an MRI, and I got examined by multiple doctors. There is no permanent damage, but there’s nothing that I’m going to do that’s going to make it worse. That’s really great to know, and now we understand what we’re dealing with. So then it does become just pain management. And that goes back to what I said before — the pain, that’s temporary. I can get through that. Like, okay, great, my ribs didn’t break. Like, I’m fine. The pain is going to be temporary, and everything that I’m working so hard for, I’m going to have for the rest of my life.

From your performance this past Tuesday, I don’t think anybody would have known that you were injured the previous week. How are you feeling now? Is it really just all about pain management at this point?

Yeah, it really is. It’s just dancing through the pain. And this is not unique to me. This has happened before. It’s going to happen again in the future. That just comes with the territory of being a dancer, and being a dancer on a high stakes competition show.

I really love the partnership you and Alan have. Did you two have an instant friendship, or has this developed over the weeks as you have continued working together?

It’s a little bit of both. When we first met, we really put two feet on the ground, looked at each other, and really just talked to one another, and that’s what we continue to do. We are open books with each other, and like any relationship, there’s moments of stress and challenge, and we are very committed to talking it through, to showing up for one another. And we have maintained that. I love him, he loves me, it’s so mutual. It’s so deep. This is really, kind of like with any production, it’s a little add water, insta-family. Alan and I are very much on the same wavelength, and we have the same work ethic, we have the same passion, we have the same drive and the same care level and desire for communication for one another. We’re the perfect pair up.

Your best friend, Lisa (Ann Walter), was a part of your Dedication Night dance, and that was another powerful moment that showcased the importance of the friendships of women. You have showcased the strength in femininity throughout your journey on the show, so why has it been important for you to advocate for that during your time on Dancing With the Stars?

(Lisa) is my best friend. She’s been coming to every single show, we have been through so much together. And the power of female friendships cannot be overstated. They are so incredible and so vital for us. We are each other’s ride or die, you know? 

That’s where the activism starts to come out in me, to advocate for empowerment, human rights. You know, because people can say it’s just a dance show, but for me, so much comes naturally with misogyny and sexism and ageism, and all this that is baked into our culture. And now, more than ever, those conversations are shifting. Those ideas are shifting. So I, through performance, through joy, through a little bit more light heartedness, I want to be a part of that conversation.

If you win season 34 of Dancing With the Stars, you would become the oldest person to ever win the show —

Wait, really?

Yes, you would.

Really?

The oldest man that has won was Donny Osmond, he was 51 when he won. And the oldest woman who won was (Jennifer Grey), and she was 50. What would that mean for you to win Dancing With the Stars?

Oh my gosh. I came into this in a very abstract way thinking and hoping, like, What if? And now it’s far more like, What if! (Laughs). I’m so close to it, like, could this actually be a reality? Dare I really dream for that? I think for me, if I can even make it to the finals, it truly is, like, just to be nominated is a great thing. You know when people say, “It’s such an honor to be nominated.” Like, I did it. To make it to the finals, that’s really my goal. And then beyond that, listen, I’m aiming for it. I’m reaching for it. There’s just so many elements that are out of control, which I will circle back a little bit to say, when you mentioned about (how) people are cheering for me — I can feel the love and the support, and I just am so grateful for it. I’m really, really grateful for it, and so appreciative that people are using their time and their energy and even giving two thoughts about me. This whole thing is just such a magical, incredible experience.

(DWTS has led to so) much joy I’m experiencing through this process. That was Alan’s and mine intention from the get go, was that we were going to trust each other and to do that through joy. Like, that was our intention and to take each week as it comes, not get too far ahead, don’t think about what’s already behind us. Like, really being in each moment and just do it with joy. That’s the one thing that I feel like we’ve been, like, mission accomplished.
People say, “Oh my God, are you having so much fun?” And it’s like, yeah, I have moments, but fun isn’t how I would describe it. I would say this whole experience has been so rewarding, and has rekindled my love for dance. Like, I just love it so much. 

You have so much momentum right now in your career. What will you do next? 
Do you see yourself continuing to pursue dance in some type of way? 

As of now, I’m set to go do Hello, Dolly! in upstate New York. I have a couple of other projects that at this time, very sadly, I can’t talk about. But I absolutely am going to keep taking dance lessons. I’m gonna stick in the ballroom world. I feel like film and television, that’s been my career for 30 plus years, and I’m very grateful for that.
This next part (of my career), I really want to do a lot more live performing. I want to do Broadway. I want to create projects. Lisa and I have a project that we’re going to be pitching. We have a show we’re creating, and so I’m so excited for the future. (DWTS) has just reignited my passion for performing on a whole new level.

Is there a specific Broadway show you have your eyes settled on that you want to be a part of? 

I would love to do Chicago, Cabaret, any of those (shows). I kind of like the darker shows. And then whatever else is coming down the pike.

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New episodes of Dancing With the Stars season 34 air and stream on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. and stream the next day on Hulu. Read more of THR’s DWTS season 34 coverage here.