Dirty Dancing star tears up at anniversary event

Jennifer Grey attends the 25th anniversary screening of Dirty Dancing in Los Angeles. Photo / AP

Jennifer Grey is "grateful" to be "alive and healthy".

The actress got very emotional at a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Dirty Dancing.

One of the most iconic and popular films of all time, Grey starred alongside the late Patrick Swayze in the romantic drama based around a teenager's first holiday romance.

The star said her former co-star's 2009 death has made her appreciate the time she has left on this planet.

"I am happy and I am grateful to be alive, I am grateful to be healthy and I am grateful to be able to dance again and that I'm able to decide what I want to do with the rest of my life. Because we don't know how long we've got, right? So grab as much joy as possible," she told a UK TV show.

Grey also insisted that she hadn't grown tired of talking about Dirty Dancing.

While she admitted that she has never carried a watermelon again since her famous catchphrase, the 52-year-old couldn't help but get emotional over the film.

"Only a fool would be tired of talking about a movie that has given this many people this much pleasure for this many years.

"That would be very ungrateful. That's not me and I am just moved to tears by being in the presence of this music (the Dirty Dancing soundtrack) and celebrating it," she said.

- Cover Media