Elaine Hendrix
An actress who mastered the art of the deliciously wicked foil, most famously as the scheming Meredith Blake in 'The Parent Trap'.
Born 1970 (age 56)·American actress·Birthday: December 28·Generation X
Biography
Elaine Hendrix didn't just play villains; she gave them a sharp, stylish, and often hilarious edge that made them impossible to forget. A trained dancer from Tennessee, she brought a precise physicality to her roles. Her breakthrough came as Meredith Blake, the gold-digging publicist in the 1998 remake of *The Parent Trap*, a performance so perfectly pitched in its vanity and comedic defeat that it became a generational touchstone. Hendrix has built a durable career by avoiding easy categorization, moving seamlessly from cult TV shows like *Joan of Arcadia* to campy soap opera glory as Alexis Carrington on the *Dynasty* reboot. She consistently chooses roles that allow her to be smart, formidable, and compelling, whether she's the antagonist or the ally. Off-screen, she is a passionate animal rights activist, channeling the intensity she brings to her characters into advocacy.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Elaine was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Elaine Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Elaine's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the iconic antagonist Meredith Blake in the 1998 hit film 'The Parent Trap'.
- Played a series regular role as Alexis Carrington Colby on the CW's 'Dynasty' reboot from 2019 to 2022.
- Starred as recurring character Ryan Hunter on the CBS drama 'Joan of Arcadia'.
- Appeared as Electra in the FX comedy series 'Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll'.
- Has been a prominent advocate for animal welfare, founding The Pet Collective and supporting numerous rescue organizations.
Did You Know?
She is a professionally trained dancer who studied ballet, jazz, and tap from childhood.
Hendrix is a dedicated vegan and animal rights activist who has produced documentaries on the subject.
She performed many of her own stunts in 'The Parent Trap', including the famous mud-wrestling scene.
She originally auditioned for the role of Elizabeth James (the mother) in 'The Parent Trap' before being cast as Meredith.
“I love playing characters that are complex and have many layers, and if they're a little bit bad, that's even more fun.”
