Didi Conn, best known for her role as Frenchy Facciano in the iconic 1978 film "Grease," recently marked her 75th birthday, sparking discussion about her enduring youthful appearance. The actress, who portrayed one of the original "Pink Ladies," has maintained a positive outlook, which she credits as a key factor in her appearance and overall well-being.
Maintaining a Youthful Appearance
Conn attributes her clear skin to her mother's genes and a straightforward beauty regimen. She emphasizes the importance of gentle cleansing with a warm towel followed by generous moisturizing. In terms of makeup, she prefers minimal application, avoiding heavy coverage and opting for light eye liner, blush, and lipstick. Conn has also expressed a preference for aging naturally, stating a personal aversion to Botox or plastic surgery due to a fear of introducing foreign substances into her face.
For her hair, Conn uses Laura Geller's Root Touch Up product to manage her gray coverage. She has also recently participated in a new beauty campaign for Laura Geller, which includes a nod to her "Grease" origins. The campaign features Conn in a pale pink dress, referencing her "Grease" character's association with beauty school.
Personal Health and Gratitude
In addition to discussing her appearance, Conn revealed that she secretly battled uterine cancer and underwent a hysterectomy approximately 18 months prior to recent reports. She noted that the surgery affected her estrogen levels, leading to drier skin, which prompted her to use Laura Geller Care's moisturizer. Despite the challenges of aging, including self-consciousness about wrinkles, Conn expresses deep gratitude for her life and career, crediting her late "Grease" co-star Olivia Newton-John for influencing her perspective on gratitude.
Career and Personal Life
Born Edith Bernstein in Brooklyn, New York, Conn began her acting career in her early teens. She gained widespread recognition for her role as Frenchy in "Grease" and later appeared in the sequel, "Grease 2." Her television credits include the sitcoms "Benson" and "Shining Time Station." Conn also lent her voice to the character Raggedy Ann in "Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure."
Conn is the only original cast member to have appeared in all three "Grease" film adaptations, including a cameo in the 2016 TV special "Grease: Live."
Beyond acting, Conn is also a figure skater and was the oldest contestant on the eleventh season of the British show "Dancing on Ice" in 2019 at age 67. She was married to Frank Conn from 1975 to 1978 and later married songwriter David Shire in 1984. Together, they have a son, Daniel, born in 1992, and Conn is also stepmother to Shire's son, Matthew. Conn became an official spokesperson for Autism Speaks in 2008, following her son's diagnosis with autism.
Conn is slated to appear in the upcoming sports comedy-drama "Weekend Warriors," starring Mark Wahlberg.