Out of the Corner by Jennifer Grey: Book Overview
Have you ever wondered what it's like to grow up in a show business family? How does sudden fame impact an actor's life and career?
In Out of the Corner, Jennifer Grey takes readers on a journey through her life in the spotlight. You'll get an insider's view of her upbringing, rise to fame, and the challenges she faced along the way.
Let's dive into Jennifer Grey's Out of the Corner and explore the highs and lows of her remarkable story.
Overview of Out of the Corner
Jennifer Grey's memoir Out of the Corner, Jennifer Grey's chronicle of the profound impacts of her iconic role in Dirty Dancing, her decision to have plastic surgery, and her turbulent path to becoming a mother and reigniting her passion for dance. Grey intimately explores how her pursuit of mainstream success in Hollywood led her to conform to unattainable beauty standards—a choice that ultimately derailed her rising career after her well-known look was altered.
With candor, Grey opens up about her battles with addiction, self-doubt, and the vulnerability of romantic relationships. Her story culminates in her triumphant return to the world of dance through her role on Dancing with the Stars, an empowering journey of sobriety, resilience, and reclaiming her identity as an artist.
Growing Up in Show Business
Jennifer Grey's upbringing was deeply rooted in the world of show business and performing arts. Her father, Joel Grey, was a successful actor, while her mother, Jo Wilder, also pursued acting. This theatrical environment shaped Jennifer's early years, first in Hollywood Hills and later in New York City.
Living among Broadway icons gave Jennifer a unique perspective on the performing arts scene. She often witnessed her father's dramatic performances drawing enthusiastic crowds for autographs. This thrilling yet challenging world of show business enveloped Jennifer, exposing her to both the joys and demands of the industry from a young age.
Jennifer's childhood was filled with artistic experiences that would later influence her career. She began ballet training at the age of five near Carnegie Hall and eventually expanded her repertoire to include various dance styles. Her passion for the arts led her to attend performances that broadened her perspective, and she always enjoyed exploring backstage. Jennifer honed her skills at a prestigious theatre school, where she was the youngest member. It was here that she refined her acting abilities by combining dance with specialized movement exercises designed for performers.
Pursuing an Acting Career
Growing up in a family celebrated for their artistic contributions, Jennifer aspired to excel and gain recognition in the theater world. As a teenager, her growing passion for acting led her to seek her parents' support in pursuing this career path more seriously.
The pull towards acting was irresistible for Jennifer, given her upbringing. She watched her father meticulously prepare for his roles and her mother continue to pursue her own career. This environment made it impossible for Jennifer to consider any other profession. The example set by her parents motivated her to follow in their footsteps and carve out her own path in the acting world.
The Impact of Rhinoplasty
Despite her well-known public image and the attention she received for her appearance, Jennifer felt a strong pressure to conform to the dominant standards of attractiveness in her field. This led her to consider getting a nose job, a decision that she struggled with internally. She felt as though it was an admission of defeat, conflicting with her strong resolve to resist the industry's demands to alter her looks.
Jennifer was aware that her father's changed looks seemed to grant him greater freedom in his career endeavors. While she maintained a subdued disdain for voluntary cosmetic surgeries, she acknowledged that such choices are a matter of personal discretion. Ultimately, she decided to undergo rhinoplasty with the intention of expanding her casting opportunities and avoiding being typecast due to her distinctive ethnic traits.
The surgery Jennifer chose was intended to be subtle and minor, reshaping her nose in a way that would blend seamlessly and not hinder her opportunities. However, this decision put her sense of self at risk, as she harbored deep concerns about adhering to the beauty norms dictated by her profession.
Unexpected Career Setbacks
The rhinoplasty led to a profound and unforeseen change in Jennifer's appearance, unexpectedly undermining her professional opportunities. Initially, her unique look had resulted in a lack of available roles for women of her type, suggesting that rhinoplasty might be the answer. However, the outcome was far from what she had anticipated.
A cinematographer was the first to notice a significant alteration in Jennifer's facial expression post-surgery. While her new image was more aligned with conventional beauty standards, it marked a clear departure from her previously recognized appearance. This change had a dramatic impact on her career trajectory.
Jennifer's rising stardom came to a sudden halt when she faced significant public and media criticism over her altered appearance. She experienced a deep feeling of isolation and detachment, feeling estranged from her former self, as if she had taken on an alternate identity for protection. Her sense of alienation grew, particularly because her father remained silent about the change.
Struggling With Identity and Career
The modifications to Jennifer's nose greatly reduced her recognizability, especially in relation to her iconic role in "Dirty Dancing." This highlighted the profound link between her physical appearance and her career. She faced a personal obstacle as professionals in the industry expressed doubts and were reluctant to cast her.
Financially, Jennifer was just starting to find her footing when the surgery resulted in a setback that went against her short-lived success. The transformation in her appearance made it challenging for both fans and industry insiders to reconcile her new look with the person they once knew, leading to a profound sense of loss.
Jennifer encountered a significant obstacle in aligning her appearance with her career goals. Her nose job had altered her public image, breaking the familiar connection that had previously existed. This unexpected turn of events forced her to grapple with issues of identity and career in ways she hadn't anticipated.
Rise to Fame With Dirty Dancing
Jennifer Grey's career experienced a significant surge as a result of the acclaim garnered by the movie "Dirty Dancing." The film's unexpected success thrust her into the spotlight, swiftly transforming her into a recognizable celebrity and granting her a notable reputation. She became a national sweetheart, capturing the affection of audiences across America.
The role in Dirty Dancing seemed tailored for Jennifer, given the parallels between Baby's background and her own. This contributed to her authentic portrayal and subsequent rise to fame. However, despite her significant fame, Jennifer found herself in a situation where ordinary employment was impractical because of her well-known persona. Driven by economic necessity, she had to explore all potential opportunities.
Challenges Post-"dirty Dancing"
Following the unexpected triumph of Dirty Dancing, Jennifer encountered difficulties in avoiding typecasting and in obtaining roles that were as impactful as her memorable performance. She faced a dilemma that led her to turn down work opportunities, along with experiencing discomfort and worry about the direction her profession in the performing arts was taking.
Jennifer found that the triumph of Dirty Dancing did not result in the expected number of opportunities for her career advancement. She encountered personal obstacles, such as her partner choosing not to join her at film premieres, in addition to professional setbacks like being rejected for an appearance on a well-known late-night talk show. This led to self-doubt and a sense of misalignment as she strived to replicate her success.
Securing a project that could rival the triumph of Dirty Dancing proved to be an exceptionally difficult task. Jennifer faced the twofold difficulty of matching her past achievements and dealing with the limited availability of suitable roles for women who shared her physical characteristics. She also faced monetary difficulties, leaving her in a tough spot because she required funds yet was reluctant to take on acting jobs that failed to inspire her.
Navigating Romantic Relationships
Jennifer Grey's personal life was as tumultuous as her professional one. She encountered difficulties in maintaining lasting fulfillment in her personal relationships. Despite her ties to famous figures, including her engagement to a man named Billy and her relationship with a renowned actor, she traversed intricate emotional terrains that frequently led her to doubt her choices and her contentment within these relationships.
Jennifer sought support and camaraderie in her relationships, including with a fellow actor who remains unnamed and her date at the Dirty Dancing premiere. However, she often experienced a sense of dissatisfaction and a lack of backing in her career endeavors. She struggled with deep emotional consequences after significant life milestones such as ending relationships, committing to marriage, and uncovering her betrothed's infidelity.
These experiences led Jennifer to undergo phases of profound self-examination. She pondered if her connections were rooted in genuine affection or dependency, and she grappled with trauma and susceptibility. The dissolution of her intense marriage was particularly challenging, illustrating the difficult process of confronting the sorrow associated with this kind of breakup.
Embracing Motherhood
At the age of forty, Jennifer's priorities shifted dramatically as she embraced motherhood. Her most important goal became prioritizing motherhood over all other aspirations. The arrival of her child transformed her existence, completely centering her attention on the well-being of her offspring. This time was characterized by deep affection and joy.
Jennifer and her partner, Clark Gregg, experienced a nuanced and rewarding family dynamic with their daughter Stella, which fostered unique opportunities for connection. Jennifer discovered that the significance and identity she gained through motherhood surpassed the value she placed on her acting profession. As she pondered her previous choices, she understood how her ambition for career achievement had influenced those decisions, and now her focus was intensely centered on her newborn child.
The experience of motherhood provided considerable comfort and acted as a crucial pause for reflecting on life's patterns. It marked a positive and deliberate departure from her previous personal and professional trajectory. Jennifer expressed a sense of purpose and comfort in understanding her rightful place, finding that motherhood gave her a sense of direction outside of her work in acting.
Overcoming Addiction
Jennifer's path to recovery began with the understanding that she needed to stop using various substances, including alcohol and cannabis, as well as cease taking Valium, even as she persisted in her tobacco use. Initially hesitant about the need for a significant transformation, she found that participating in gatherings for those dealing with alcoholism was surprisingly enjoyable.
Upon achieving sobriety, Jennifer experienced her feelings in their purest form, a feeling unfamiliar to her since her adolescence. This signified a distinct break from a history marred by substance dependence. Despite initial doubts and feeling out of place at support meetings, she found solace and support. With each passing day of abstinence from substances, she began to see every 24 hours as a significant victory.
Jennifer also observed that as she maintained her sobriety, her earnings improved, which further motivated her to stay sober. Achieving sobriety provided her with the necessary resources to confront deep emotions by focusing on the present moment. She realized that her emotions were not deadly and achieved stability by embracing new methods of adaptation.
Rediscovering Dance on Dancing With the Stars
Jennifer overcame her public performance anxiety by participating in the television show Dancing with the Stars, after a hiatus that lasted over two decades. Despite not having stepped onto the dance floor since her iconic role in Dirty Dancing, and wrestling with the discomfort of celebrity status and the pressure to outdo her past achievements, she was driven by an intrinsic yearning to rediscover equilibrium and elegance in the realm of dance.
Jennifer managed to alter her response to severe pre-performance anxiety through collaboration with an expert in mind-body connections, employing hypnotherapy techniques. She made the decision on her own to participate in Dancing with the Stars, but this decision quickly resulted in feelings of regret and a deep-seated anxiety. Despite facing health challenges, including a distressing condition known as Morton's neuroma, she continued with the encouragement of her partner Clark.
The partnership between Jennifer and the accomplished dancer Derek Hough required dedicating roughly seven hours daily to rehearsals, on top of managing other responsibilities associated with the production. During rehearsals, she often grappled with learning the routines and regularly experienced intense fear while performing. However, whenever she took her position before the audience, the nervousness transformed into focus, propelling her to deliver exceptional presentations that enthralled the spectators and herself.
A Journey of Healing and Empowerment
The experience on Dancing with the Stars not only reignited Jennifer's passion for dance but also initiated a path toward self-empowerment and recovery. Her skills and tenacity were reinforced by her string of victories and the praise she received from her paternal figure.
This experience served as a testament to how far Jennifer had come, both in her battle against addiction and in facing personal fears. Her journey showcases significant growth and a rediscovery of joy in once-forsaken activities, a change fueled by a steadfast dedication to sobriety and a revived confidence in her talent for dance.
Through her participation in Dancing with the Stars, Jennifer was able to reconnect with her passion for dance in a healing and empowering way. This experience not only allowed her to overcome her fears but also provided a platform for her to showcase her talents and regain her confidence. It marked a significant turning point in her life, symbolizing her triumph over addiction and her ability to face and conquer her personal challenges.