You might have seen actress Didi Conn in film credits including You Light Up My Life (1977), Frida (2002) and the TV series, Benson (1981-85). But it’s more likely you know her as Frenchie, one of the infamous Pink Ladies in the hit film, Grease (1978), which features a memorable scene in which Frankie Avalon sings ‘Beauty School Dropout’ to her. Not only was Conn one of the few original cast to return for the sequel, Grease 2 (1982), but she was also featured in the 2016 TV movie Grease Live!

In our newest episode of the “Golden Globes Around the World” podcast series, HFPA member Scott Orlin – also a four-decade-long family friend of Conn – talks to her about her life and career, including the movie that changed her life, her special friendship with the late Olivia Newton-John and her joy in seeing Frenchie appear on screen again in the new Paramount+ TV series, Grease: The Rise of the Pink Ladies. In that series, set four years before the original film, we meet new high school students Frenchie (Madison Elizabeth Lagares) and Rizzo (Emma Shannon) as supporting characters and finally learn Frenchie’s real name.