EXCLUSIVE: Abigail Breslin on Recreating the Iconic 'Dirty Dancing' Lift for the Reboot: 'I Was Terrified'

By
This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors.

If you are using ad-blocking software, please disable it and reload the page.

Abigail Breslin is so excited for fans to see her in the Dirty Dancing reboot!

When ET visited the set of the remake in North Carolina last year, the 21-year-old actress opened up about attempting the original film's iconic lift, made famous by Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze.


WATCH: 'Dirty Dancing' Turns 30! 9 Things You Didn't Know About the Iconic Film

"I was like, 'Ugh, I want to be like Baby. I want to dance like that,'" Breslin, who's portraying the beloved role of Baby Houseman in the reboot, said. "But I'm the most uncoordinated human being on the face of the Earth, so it didn't seem like a likely scenario for me."

Luckily, after eight weeks of rehearsals and getting over her fear of the risqué move, she and Colt Prattes (the new Johnny Castle!) finally got it down.

"I was terrified," she admitted, noting she had no prior dance experience. "I could, like, feel my heart racing so much. And then when I was up there and we held it, I was just like, 'Ahhh! I did it. I'm here.'"

Even Breslin's co-stars were proud of her for successfully executing the lift, cheering her and Prattes on from the sidelines.


RELATED: Emma Stone Says She Had a 'Meltdown' Over Ryan Gosling's 'Dirty Dancing' Lift in 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'

"I wanted to cry," said Sarah Hyland, who's taking on the role of Baby's sister, Lisa. "When I saw Abby do the lift for the first time… I've known Abby since she was one, I was six. To see her conquer something like that is really amazing because I really do feel like a big sister to her, in real life as well as the film."

ET also chatted with Prattes on set, who revealed he was much more nervous about a specific line he had to deliver -- Swayze's most memorable one from the 1987 classic, "Nobody puts Baby in the corner."

"I feel like I gotta do it with an eyebrow," he explained. "Just as naturally as possible."

The musical reimagining of Dirty Dancing premieres Wednesday, May 24 on ABC. Hear more on what to expect from Breslin. Prattes and company in the video below!


WATCH: Abigail Breslin Embodies Baby in New 'Dirty Dancing' Poster