Dirty Dancing: Jennifer Grey reveals the secret behind film's most famous lift

And why she has no plans to re-create it

Jennifer Grey (Getty Images )

One of the most famous lifts in film has a surprising story behind it.

The moment Patrick Swayze held Jennifer Grey in the air in the finale of Dirty Dancing has been tirelessly recreated at weddings, in dance routines and in numerous parodies.

Grey was catapulted to fame after her turn as Frances “Baby” Houseman, a naïve student who falls in love with dance instructor, Johnny Castle, played by Swayze.

Much of the 1987 film focused on the characters trying, and failing, to perfect the lift before executing it perfectly in the final scene.

But when asked if she had ever tried to recreate the lift, Grey told The Guardian the pair had never practiced the move.

“I only did it on the day I shot it,” she said. “Never rehearsed it, never done it since. I don’t know how all these people who re-enact it have the guts to throw themselves into the arms of anyone other than Patrick Swayze. It’s insane!”

There are no plans to recreate it, either.

“It’s a non-starter,” said Grey. “It happened, enjoy it, watch it over and over again, but never ask me to do it again because I’m too f**king old ... I have a family and I want to live longer [laughs].”

Swayze sadly passed away in 2009, 20 months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.