EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite has revealed she is finally taking the Strictly plunge this Christmas because she is now feeling ‘older and braver’.
Outhwaite, 54, who played Mel Owen on the BBC1 soap opera, has revealed that her busy work schedule had always stopped her accepting Strictly’s call beforehand.
She said: ‘I was definitely asked in my 30s and in my 40s but I thought I’d wait until I was properly old and do it.
‘My 30s and 40s were manic. Now I can stop and take stock and not just do everything but pick and choose, it makes me feel a bit like I am braver. Also, I don’t care what anyone thinks any more – that’s what happens as you get older.’
The mother-of-two, who will be perfoming a Viennese Waltz to Hallelujah with her pro partner Nikita Kuzmin during the Strictly Christmas special, said that despite her long career as an actress, dancing did not come naturally to her and was ‘not going for the win.’
‘In my head, when I’m dancing I think I look like Nadiya (Bychkova). And then I catch myself in the mirror and I’m like, “oh dear”.
‘In my head it looks and feels really beautiful – I’m trying to be graceful but that’s not in my comfort zone.’
Despite this, she said she was loving every moment of rehearsal.
She told the Mirror: ‘I’m revelling in the joy of it, these little nuggets of joy that come along in your life.’
She admitted that some of her friends tried to warn her off taking part, but she firmly ignored them.
‘Some people have said to me “oh you should do it” and other people have said “definitely don’t” – but these aren’t people who have done it!
‘These are actor friends of mine that are like, “Why? Don’t do it, it’s going to be a nightmare” but actually this is a little taster for me. It’s making me kind of think it wouldn’t necessarily be a nightmare. My body might be able to hold up.’
Despite this, she admitted she had little time to prepare for the show.
‘I said yes on the Thursday and started on the Monday. I’m sure someone had dropped out but I don’t care. That’s my gain!’