Elaine Hendrix Calls “Parent Trap” Costar Lisa Ann Walter Her ‘Life Security Blanket’ (Exclusive)

Elaine Hendrix is competing successful play 34 of Dancing pinch nan Stars — and she's had 1 of her biggest cheerleaders successful nan location each week: Lisa Ann Walter.

The 2 starred together successful nan 1998 Disney classical The Parent Trap and person remained adjacent friends ever since. In fact, while chatting pinch PEOPLE astatine DWTS' week 2 show successful Los Angeles, Hendrix, 54, called Walter, 62, her "life information blanket."

"[Dance partner] Alan [Bersten] is my show information blanket, and Lisa is my life information blanket," she says. "And I look astatine her and I instantly consciousness calm."

"She conscionable knows," Hendrix continues of nan Abbott Elementary star. "We cognize what to opportunity to each different because we cognize each different truthful well. So erstwhile I commencement to get connected nan edge, she knows really to bring maine backmost and really to calm maine down. And so, having her present intends everything to me."

Asked if they person a squad handshake and name, Bersten, 31, told PEOPLE, "We're stuck pinch that unthinkable handshake, and we're proud of it," referring to nan concealed handshake that twins Annie and Hallie (both played by Lindsay Lohan) execute successful The Parent Trap. Hendrix and nan creation pro incorporated portion of nan iconic handshake into their choreography during DWTS' 34 play premiere.

"Our squad sanction is Team Partner Trap," Bersten adds.

As for Walter, Hendrix says her erstwhile costar plans to "be present each week" to support her during her DWTS journey.

Walter opened up astir nan pair's relationship successful an exclusive question and reply pinch PEOPLE past year, calling Hendrix her "best friend successful nan full world."

"She's beautiful and she's charming and she's funny arsenic each get out. I emotion her dearly. She's besides a awesome caretaker," Walter said.

She besides revealed astatine nan clip that nan 2 friends looked done each other's making love apps and helped prime prospective dates.

"She does nonstop maine her choices if either 1 of america is ever brave capable to spell online and connected nan apps and look astatine guys," Walter said. "She'll say, 'What astir this guy?' And, 'I deliberation that could beryllium fun.' But past we benignant of talk each different retired of it. So we're not awesome successful that way."

In 2023, successful a astonishing development, Hendrix and Walter discovered a relationship successful their respective family histories. Walter was featured successful nan premiere section of Ancestry's YouTube series, unFamiliar, which had her revisiting nan streets and buildings her relatives inhabited connected New York City's Lower East Side.

She learned that longtime friend Hendrix besides has roots connected nan aforesaid street. Hendrix's great-grandparents lived conscionable blocks distant from Walter's great-grandparents connected Elizabeth Street during nan early 1900s.

"Of people they knew each other," Hendrix said successful nan episode, adding, "It was fate."

Discussing nan unFamiliar section astatine nan time, Walter told PEOPLE that, ever since gathering Hendrix during auditions for The Parent Trap, she's been nan first personification she calls — for conscionable astir everything.

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"I person to telephone my life partner, Elaine, and show her that this point happened aliases I've sewage this audition coming aliases I'm sobbing because immoderate jabroni collapsed my heart," Walter said. "She conscionable was nan personification that I called. Everybody has a personification they cheque successful pinch astir everything successful their life. And Elaine is it for me."