Strictly Come Dancing star Alex Kingston has shared her encouragement for actors of all kinds to give the BBC reality show a try.
The Doctor Who actor, 62, has been dancing up a storm on the dance floor with pro partner Johannes Radebe.
She’s blown fans away with her perfect Rumba and fabulous Dolly Parton impression, with many rooting for this electric partnership to make it all the way.
This includes her former co-stars on the sci-fi show, especially since Johannes himself has also guest-starred in the show, making it a fully Whovian duo.
She told Metro: ‘I have had such amazing shout-outs from Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat… from Matt Smith, from Arthur [Darvill], from Karen [Gillian],it’s lovely..’
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Reflecting on their support, she said that it has opened her eyes to a whole world of Strictly viewers who normally stick to the shadows.
As she explained: ‘It didn’t occur to me that they watch Strictly, but this is the thing, so many people watch Strictly but they don’t necessarily make it public that they do, including myself.
‘I was one of those people that was such a massive Strictly fan but there was always that thing [that] you don’t ever admit that you watch Strictly because you’re a serious actor.
‘So I’m just hoping, aside from encouraging people of a certain age that anything is possible, we’ve also have people thinking twice [and going] “oh, well, maybe I could dare to be a Strictly contestant as well.
‘I would so encourage that, because it’s so hard, but at the same time, it is such a rewarding journey.Doesn’t matter how long that journey is, anybody who leaves is so grateful to have had at least part of that journey.’
The star recently opened up about receiving a womb cancer diagnosis last year – and how it inspired her to eventually come onto the show.
Speaking on This Morning, she said: ‘It’s really different and more challenging than I thought it would be to be honest but I’m doing it for women of a certain age.’
She continued: ‘For anyone over 60, age is just a number and to prove that after a certain age you are not dead below the knee.”
Discussing her own journey, she shared: ‘I had quite complex health issues last year, which I have recovered from. Out of that, it’s just that thing you hear over and over again, which is life is too short if there is anything you want to do, be brave and just go and do it.’
Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One tonight at 6:35pm.
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