Queen for a Day

photo courtesy of ABC/Jose Alvarado Jr.

The North Carolina Azalea Festival has officially bestowed its royal crown upon ELAINE HENDRIX, the actor, producer, dancer, and activist who is perhaps best known for her iconic role as stepmother-to-be Meredith Blake in Disney’s 1998 The Parent Trap. 

The 2026 Azalea Queen, who has starred in numerous movies and television shows – from Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion and Superstar to FX’s Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll and the CW’s “Dynasty” – was also a finalist in last season’s Dancing with the Stars (DWTS). Fresh off the heels of a live Hello, Dolly! tour and amidst a DWTS tour this spring, Hendrix says she is excited to partake in the Azalea Festival celebrations as this year’s queen. 

 She first experienced the Azalea Festival in 2009 when she was a celebrity guest with her friend and actor Beth Grant. 

“I love connecting with people; it’s one of the reasons I connected with doing the Azalea Festival,” Hendrix says. “I love it. It’s a big adventure for me.” 

Hendrix spoke with WILMA about Wilmington, The Parent Trap, DWTS, and more: 

 What was your reaction to being named this year’s Azalea Queen? 

“When I was asked to be queen, I knew exactly what I was getting into. It’s this wonderfully wild event. There’s so much going on – the security escorts, the parades, all of the events, the concerts – I remember it just being nonstop fun; it was head-spinning. To come back and do it as queen, it’s an honor, and I’m looking forward to all the fun.” 

Did you have any idea how big The Parent Trap would become? 

“I booked this Disney movie, right? Which would be exciting in and of itself, and then as the years go by, it just keeps becoming even more and more beloved. You can’t plan for that. … It was just this pinnacle moment I could’ve never predicted, and it is literally the gift that keeps on giving.” 

Your Parent Trap character Meredith Blake has been getting some surprising attention on social media – women are rethinking their vilification of her. What do you think about that? 

“I see all the time that the energy toward me with her has never waned. What she has been given is a redemption. And to that, I say, finally! And I say that, of course, lovingly tongue-in-cheek. 

When you play a character, everything you do for your character you have to justify. I knew all along that she was not the bad guy. For the intent of the movie, she is the bad guy, but I never say it that way, and so the fact that other people are picking up on that now and having fun with her and embracing her in a whole new way – I just love it. 

In a lot of ways, I think part of the fun and part of embracing the gift of The Parent Trap is seeing the entire movie in a whole new way and still being able to love it; that’s the magic of it, and that’s what you can’t predict.” 

Do you have a favorite memory from filming The Parent Trap? 

“I think the whole experience. I could mention one thing and say oh my gosh, and then there’s this, and then there’s this – everything from the wardrobe to the food to the role to the people to the location – everything about it was a dream.” 

Tell us about your DWTS journey.

photo courtesy of ABC Press for DWTS

“I’m on tour with Dancing with the Stars, and that’s opened a whole world for me, because I began my career as a dancer, and had to end it due to injury, but I’m back dancing and I absolutely love it. 

For me, since I started my career as a dancer, it was a lot like riding a bike, but to dance at the level we did at the show, we rehearsed every day. I haven’t had a day off since last June, and I’m fine with it, but I just put a lot of work into what I do.”

What’s your favorite ballroom dance? 

“That’s like asking my favorite movie or song. Ultimately, it’s asking who your favorite kid is, and it’s like, well, I like different ones for different reasons at different times. The paso doble –that’s the dance that got us into the finals. I like that one – it’s a very passionate, fiery dance that requires a lot of downright aggression, and it’s a dance that’s essentially a fight – that one and the tango – so I like the more passionate, fiery dances.” 

You’re a vocal activist for animal and human rights. Why has your advocacy work been so important to you?  

“First and foremost, I’m an animal rights activist. I’m vegan. I live my life as free of animal suffering as I possibly can. I always want people to know that to help animals requires so much less effort than people think, you’ve just got to do it. … How we treat the most innocent is how we end up treating the whole. Right now, this country – and the world – is in a real crisis, and I very much believe that if we paid more attention and love and care to nature and to animals, that would literally fix everything. 

I think we have to take care of one another and look out for one another. … It matters to me to get involved. I think life is hard enough; let’s not pile on with unnecessary suffering. Let’s help each other out.” 

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