Jennifer Gray reveals how Jamie Lee Curtis helped her transform into Gwen Shamblin for Lifetime Movie
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 07: (LR) Jamie Lee Curtis and Jennifer Gray attend the Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Gala Presented By Lifetime on December 07, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/WireImage)
Emma McIntyre/WireImage
Jennifer Gray received help from boyfriend and fellow actor Jamie Lee Curtis as she prepared for her latest role.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight published on Thursday, the 62-year-old Dirty Dancing star revealed the advice Curtis gave her on how best to adapt to the lead role in Lifetime biopic Gwen Shamblin: Starving for Salvation can transform.
One of the visual aspects of the Shamblin reel is a distinctively teased, bleached hairstyle. The first-time Oscar nominee explained that Curtis steered her in the right direction to achieve this look.
“She said, ‘Well, you have to go with Rob Pickens. He is the best wig maker. He just made my Halloween wigs [and] he did Ana de Armas for Blonde.'”
Gray didn’t argue. “If she tells me in that stern voice, I’ll do as she says, and that’s why I called [Pickens].”
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Jennifer Gray attends the premiere of Marvel Studios “Captain Marvel” on March 4, 2019 in Hollywood, California. , Jennifer Gray
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Jennifer Gray/Instagram
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According to Deadline, in November Gray signed to play Shamblin, a controversial religious leader who founded a hugely popular Christian feeding program and later the Remnant Fellowship Church in Tennessee.
A few days after sealing the role, Gray shared a first look at her role transformation on Instagram.
“Call me Gwen #starvingforsalvation #[email protected],” she wrote alongside a photo of herself with long blonde hair and smoky eye makeup, while crediting Pickens and hairstylist Lyne Lapiana.
The film follows the success of the HBO documentary series The Way Down: God, Greed and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin, which chronicled the rise and fall of the cult leader.
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Gwen Shamblin: Starving for Salvation premieres Saturday on Lifetime.
