The Dirty Dancing star also praised her favorite film for depicting the reality of abortion when the procedure is illegal.
Jennifer Gray is one of many women who have shared their abortion stories since the Supreme Court ruled Roe v. Wade, which abolished the constitutional right to abortion.
“I feel very emotional,” the 62-year-old Dirty Dancing star told the Los Angeles Times of the decision, overturning nearly 50 years of precedent. “Even though I see it is coming, we had heard what was to come; it didn’t feel real.”
The actress describes her own experiences with abortion in her memoir, Out of the Corner, where she discusses her rebellious moments as a teenager.
“When I try to imagine my daughter at 16 playing house, actually living with a grown man, hitting tons of hits, banging quaaludes, and going to the studio [54] — not to mention being lied to and conned after that, blessed with various sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, I feel physically ill,” she wrote. “No teenager should swim in such dark waters,” Gray told the Times. That while she was cautious about birth control and felt empower by her sexual freedom as a young adult, the decision to have an abortion affect her.
“It’s a grave decision. And it stays with you,” he admits before confirming it was his right decision.
“I wouldn’t have my life. I wouldn’t have my career, I wouldn’t have anything,” Gray added. “And it’s not because I don’t take it seriously. I always wanted a child. As a teenager, I didn’t want children. I didn’t have children where I was [in] my life.”
It wasn’t until the star turn 41 that she gave birth to her daughter Stella, now 20, with ex-husband Clark Gregg. Reflecting on the experience, Gray say he was “heartbroken” by the reversal of Roe v. Calves.
“This is fundamentally wrong,” she add, “and it is time for all women to stand up and speak up now because we have accepted since 1973 that our decision is safe and will never be overturned.”
The actress explained how grateful Dirty Dancing was for bringing the pro-choice message.