Beloved Grease star opens up about ‘recluse’ life after death of partner of 24 years

Legendary Grease star Stockard Channing, loved as Rizzo in the hit musical, has revealed the real reason she left the US for a quiet life overseas.

The 82-year-old Oscar nominee, who shot to fame as the lead of The Pink Ladies alongside John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, said the decision came after the devastating death of her partner of over 20 years.

“I’m happy being a recluse,” Channing admitted to The Sunday Times in rare interview.

Channing was in a relationship with producer and cinematographer Dan Gillham for two decades before he passed in 2014.

The Practical Magic star confessed her partner’s death “was more devastating than I realised; it had a lag effect”.

“The pattern of my life shifted,” she told the outlet.

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So in 2019 she “shifted” her life from Maine, New England in the US and relocated to a quiet life in London, UK.

Having been married four times, and without children, she mused about the life that could have been.

“Children were thought about and, yeah, I think about them now because it’d be great to have someone taking care of me,” she said.

“But hey, children can be just as selfish as everybody else out there.”

And while Channing is living life away from the spotlight, the actress isn’t quite done with Hollywood yet.

The Tony Award winner will return to screens this September in highly anticipated sequel Practical Magic 2.

Channing will reprise her role as Aunt Frances in the supernatural rom-com, alongside original cast Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock and Dianne Wiest.

Kidman took to Instagram on Saturday to share a spell-binding behind-the-scenes look into the new movie, including rare snaps of Channing back in costume.

“Just a little magic ✨🌙🔮,” Kidman captioned the magical photos with franchise newcomers Joey King and Maisie Williams.