Elaine Hendrix Was Touched by Fan Reaction to ‘Freakier Friday’ Cameo

Elaine Hendrix is grateful for how much fans enjoyed her recent cameo in Freakier Friday.

“I have gotten so many messages [from] people who have said, ‘The audience gasped when you came on, or they cheered when you came on,’” Hendrix, 54, exclusively told Us Weekly on Wednesday, September 3, after being announced as one of the new cast members for Dancing With the Stars season 34. “And that just warms my heart so much.”

Hendrix appeared in Freakier Friday alongside Lindsay Lohan nearly three decades after they starred in The Parent Trap together. Hendrix portrayed the iconic Meredith Blake, who was engaged to Lohan’s character’s father, played by Dennis Quaid. While Meredith was once considered to be the villain of the story, the character has since become beloved.

“Meredith has followed me [for] a very long time,” she continued. “So I know what that’s like as I’m living it, but for other people to be experiencing that and then sharing it with me, it just means the world to me.”

In the Freaky Friday sequel, Hendrix plays Blake Kale, a publicist for a musician that Lohan’s character is working with. The role was a nod to Meredith, as the two characters share a name and profession.

At the premiere, Hendrix walked the red carpet alongside Lohan, 39. The actresses were also joined by another The Parent Trap star, Lisa Ann Walter. Walter played Chessy, who was a nanny to Lohan’s character.

Following the success of Freakier Friday, fans have wondered whether The Parent Trap could get the sequel treatment at some point. While Hendrix shared she doesn’t have a say in another film being in the works, she would be on board if it came to fruition.

“That conversation always exists, and I’m not in control of it,” she told Us. “All I can say is yes … all of our answers are yes. So, we’ll see.”

Hendrix is one of 14 stars headed to the DWTS ballroom this season. The actress will face off against Robert Irwin, Alix Earle, Corey Feldman, Jordan Chiles, Baron Davis, Lauren Jauregui, Dylan Efron and more. Hendrix is partnered with Alan Bersten.

“I genuinely think that Alan is the perfect coach for me. He’s fun, funny, he’s so patient. He’s so kind, his work ethic — that’s one thing we have in common. We both work really hard,” Hendrix told Us of her and Bersten’s dynamic so far. “We both want to be as technically proficient as possible. … I’ve never done ballroom, but he keeps showing me over and over, it doesn’t matter how many times, and so it’s a match made in heaven.”

Dancing With the Stars premieres on ABC and Disney+ Tuesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET, with new episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.

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