Jennifer Grey battled back from last week’s season low to top the leaderboard in a tie with Brandy on Monday night’s “Dancing with the Stars,” and she explained to Access Hollywood’s Tony Potts why she was able to make such a triumphant return.
“I just feel like you have that stuff and then you push through,” Jennifer told Tony at the party for “Dancing’s” 200th episode on Monday evening. “I’m a fighter, I’m a warrior and I’m not going down without a fight.”
Jennifer, who has said throughout the season that she’s competing against herself, revealed that part of her comeback – after an animated dance last week that was slammed by Carrie Ann Inaba – was for her 9-year-old daughter, Stella.
“It’s so important to show, you know, your kid how to walk through fear,” Jennifer explained. “It’s one thing to say, ‘You gotta walk through your fears kid.’ It’s another thing to have them watch you be afraid and walking.”
The actress also credited her daughter’s encouragement for leading her to Season 11 of “DWTS.”
“I’m really glad that she wanted me to be part of this, because it’s really a great experience,” Jennifer said. “And if it wasn’t for her urging me on, who knows?”
Jennifer’s father, legendary actor/singer/dancer Joel Grey, was also on hand at “Dancing’s” 200th episode party and he told Tony that watching his daughter compete on the show has brought unexpected joys.
“I am thrilled to see her achieve her goal and that’s what she’s doing and then, going beyond it? I had no idea she could ever soar like this. As an actor I know, but as a dancer this is new territory and it’s thrilling,” Joel said. “When she rehearsed yesterday, I was standing up there all by myself, I found myself away from everybody– I was just tearing. It was great.”
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