Anyone who watched The Parent Trap as a kid remembers Meredith Blake — the sharp, glamorous woman who almost stole the show. Decades later, Elaine Hendrix is still turning heads, but the questions people ask about her have shifted from film roles to her personal life.
Born: December 28, 1970 ·
Occupation: Actress ·
Notable Work: The Parent Trap (1998) ·
Instagram Followers: 478,000
Quick snapshot
- No publicly known children (Us Weekly celebrity profile)
- Not currently married (Us Weekly)
- Close friendship with Lisa Ann Walter, not romantic (PEOPLE)
- Hospitalized during Dancing with the Stars due to rib injury (Entertainment Tonight)
- 1970 – Born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
- 1998 – Plays Meredith Blake in The Parent Trap
- 2024 – Competes on Dancing with the Stars; suffers injury and hospitalization
- Continuing acting career (Us Weekly)
- Active on social media (Instagram 478K followers) (Us Weekly)
- Advocacy work (animal rights, LGBTQ+ causes) (Us Weekly)
Five key facts about Elaine Hendrix, one pattern: her public persona is clear, but her private life remains deliberately opaque.
The snapshot above highlights the known unknowns around the actress.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Katherine Elaine Hendrix |
| Date of Birth | December 28, 1970 |
| Place of Birth | Oak Ridge, Tennessee |
| Years Active | 1994–present |
| Known For | The Parent Trap, Dynasty, Inspector Gadget |
Does Elaine Hendrix have any children?
Elaine Hendrix’s family background
Elaine Hendrix has never publicly indicated she has children. According to Us Weekly’s celebrity profile, the actress is listed as single with no mention of children. In an interview quoted by Yahoo Entertainment, Hendrix stated she never expected a conventional family life and does not want marriage or children. That statement, while not recent, aligns with her current public profile.
Is Elaine Hendrix cousins with Harrison Smith?
Rumors have circulated online that Hendrix is related to NFL player Harrison Smith, but no credible source has confirmed a familial connection. The actress has not addressed the claim in any known interview. Until a verified statement or genealogical record appears, this remains speculative.
Is Elaine Hendrix Married?
Elaine Hendrix’s past relationships
She has never been married, according to Complex. Hendrix has dated in the past but has kept those relationships largely private. In recent years, she has described herself as single in interviews and on social media.
Current relationship status
As of 2025, Hendrix is not publicly in a relationship. Us Weekly lists her as single. Her focus, she has said, is on her career, her friendships, and her rescue animals.
For fans wondering about a husband: there isn’t one. Hendrix’s own words suggest she’s intentionally unmarried, and no public record contradicts that.
Are Lisa Ann Walter and Elaine Hendrix a couple?
Their on-screen chemistry
In The Parent Trap, Walter played Chessy, the housekeeper, and Hendrix played Meredith, the conniving fiancée. On screen they had little direct interaction, but off-screen they became inseparable. PEOPLE reported that they have remained close friends since the film’s release in 1998.
Public statements about their bond
Both women have repeatedly denied any romantic relationship. In a Complex article, Hendrix and Walter joke that they are “a married couple without the romance.” Hendrix described their friendship to Woman’s World as having gone through “everything together.” Walter, in turn, called Hendrix her “best friend in the whole world” in a PEOPLE interview.
“She’s my show security blanket, and Lisa Ann is my life security blanket.”
— Elaine Hendrix, quoted in PEOPLE
The pattern: their relationship is famously close, but it’s platonic. Fans who ship them romantically will have to settle for a deeply devoted friendship.
What happened with Elaine on Dancing with the Stars?
Injury and hospitalization
During season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, Hendrix suffered a rib injury while rehearsing a lift for the routine “Defying Gravity.” Woman’s World reported that the problem began when she first started doing lifts, and it worsened as she continued rehearsing. She was hospitalized, but Entertainment Tonight confirmed there was no permanent or serious damage.
Impact on the competition
Hendrix missed at least one performance due to the injury. She was later able to return, and her friend Lisa Ann Walter appeared on the show to support her. Woman’s World quoted Hendrix saying she believed it was likely torn tissue, but nothing was broken. She has since recovered and resumed her normal activities.
The injury was a reminder of the physical toll of reality competition shows. For a contestant in her 50s, the risk of muscle and bone injuries is real — and Hendrix’s willingness to push through it earned her respect but also scrutiny.
What movies and TV shows has Elaine Hendrix been in?
Early career
Hendrix began acting in 1994 with guest roles on television shows. Her first major film role was in Superstar (1999), but it was the 1998 film The Parent Trap that made her recognizable. She played Meredith Blake, the gold-digging fiancée opposite Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson.
The Parent Trap and other notable roles
Beyond The Parent Trap, Hendrix appeared in Inspector Gadget (1999) as the villainess, and in the TV series Dynasty (2019–2022) as Alexis Carrington. She also starred in the upcoming Freakier Friday (2025), a sequel to the 2003 film. Her filmography spans over 50 credits, including Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, Get Over It, and Joan of Arcadia.
Recent projects
In 2024, she competed on Dancing with the Stars and remains active in independent film and television. Us Weekly notes she is also a social media influencer with 478,000 Instagram followers as of early 2025.
“We’ve been best friends since we were 26, 27 years old — we’ve been through everything together.”
— Elaine Hendrix on her friendship with Lisa Ann Walter, in Woman’s World
What this means: Hendrix’s career is far from a one-role wonder. She has built a steady, diverse body of work, and her recent DWTS appearance introduced her to a new generation.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- No children (Us Weekly)
- Never married (Complex)
- Close friendship with Lisa Ann Walter (platonic) (PEOPLE)
- Hospitalized during DWTS due to rib injury (Entertainment Tonight)
- Born December 28, 1970 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
What’s unclear
- Whether she has ever been married (complex report says no, but no definitive statement)
- Whether she is cousins with Harrison Smith (unconfirmed)
- Exact net worth (no official figure)
- Details of past relationships (kept private)
“I don’t want marriage or children. I never expected a conventional family life.”
— Elaine Hendrix, quoted in Yahoo Entertainment
Hendrix’s personal choices are clear: she has built a life around friendship, career, and advocacy — not marriage or motherhood. For fans who grew up with her as Meredith Blake
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Report, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.