Nearly 30 years after Dirty Dancing hit theaters, Jennifer Grey has candidly opened up about working with her late co-star Patrick Swayze in the 1987 film.

“I had the time of my life,” the 57-year-old actress exclusively gushed to Closer Weekly at a recent event in Beverly Hills, CA. “And Patrick really had his heart in it.”

MORE: See the Original Cast of ‘Dirty Dancing’ Then and Now!

The pair — who portrayed sheltered Baby and worldly dance instructor Johnny in the blockbuster — were similarly opposites in real life. “He was a great dancer and he was fearless,” Jennifer said of Patrick, who sadly died at age 57 in 2009 from pancreatic cancer.

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Patrick and Jennifer in Dirty Dancing.

Despite their differences, the two pulled it together while onscreen for a performance that would be remembered decades later. “His fearlessness with my fearfulness — it was like a marriage where you have two opposites,” she explained. “He would do anything and I would be scared to do anything. [But] he was really strong and very protective of me.” So sweet!

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Jennifer similarly spoke out about her Dirty Dancing role in a 2015 interview — and revealed the iconic lift she shared with Patrick was barely rehearsed! “I only did it on the day I shot it,” she confessed.

“Never rehearsed it, never done it since. I don’t know how all these people who reenact it have the guts to throw themselves into the arms of anyone other than Patrick Swayze. It’s insane!” Jennifer continued.

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When asked if she’d ever try to recreate the lift, Jennifer quipped, “It happened, enjoy it, watch [the movie] over and over again but never ask me to do it again because I’m too f—ing old. I have a family and I want to live longer.” Too funny!

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