The “beloved” movie Jessica Biel has seen at least 80 times: “Or more, no joke”
Jessica Biel’s career exploded quite early, making her one of the most recognisable actresses of her generation, but that being said, it didn’t prevent her from being starstruck when meeting the star of one of her favourite childhood movies.
The group of actors who grew up during Biel’s generation learned to have a deep reverence for the most prominent stars of the 1980s, as they seemed larger-than-life during an era in which celebrity gossip wasn’t quite as elevated as it is today. Even if famous movie stars would occasionally make appearances on talk shows or at public events, they largely existed only on the big screen, which created a form of magical aura around them.
The actor admitted that there was no star she admired more than Patrick Swayze, an icon of the ‘80s who passed away at far too young an age, and although Swayze’s many classic films include Point Break, Road House, Red Dawn, and even Donnie Darko, Biel told Parade that she had a strong affinity for Dirty Dancing.
“He is beloved by everyone, including me,” Biel said, “I grew up watching Dirty Dancing. I watched it every day after school. Every day. I’ve seen it probably 80 times or more, no joke”.
While that degree of obsessiveness is rarely seen for many films, Dirty Dancing was also a classic that was ahead of its time, dealing with surprisingly serious topics like women’s rights and class mobility. It was alongside developing a subgenre of ‘dancing films’ that grew increasingly popular in the next decade, such that it’s hard to imagine that films such as Step Up, Centre Stage, or Save That Last Dance would have been made without the precedent that the former set.
Biel’s childhood dream came full circle when she was given the opportunity to star opposite Swayne in Powder Blue, an ensemble drama that also co-starred Ray Liotta and Forest Whitaker. While it ended up being the last film that he ever starred in, as he passed away from cancer later the same year, she had nothing but positive things to say about their experience working together.
“Patrick was wonderful and full of energy,” Biel said, “He was involved in the process and literally coming to the set even when he wasn’t even working and saying, ‘Here’s my idea for that scene tomorrow’.”
Powder Blue may not have ended up being a critical success, but it may have been one of the most important roles of her career; it was after a few similarly star-studded Hollywood flops that she retreated to starring in smaller, more independent productions in which she was given the chance to show more vulnerability. Television would be where Biel was able to unlock her fullest potential, as she ended up earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her performance in The Sinner.
The actor is certainly not the only star of her generation to be obsessed with Dirty Dancing, which launched one of the most successful soundtracks of all time and won an Oscar for ‘Best Original Song’. The film subsequently inspired a prequel, a stage musical, several reality competition shows, and an upcoming sequel that involved Jennifer Grey; however, Swayze’s performance loomed so large within the original that it’s hard to see any new version of it having the same resonance.
