EXCLUSIVE: EastEnders star Lacey Turner has been confirmed as the latest celebrity to join the Strictly Come Dancing line-up, and she’s already admitted she’s ‘absolutely terrified’ about the live shows
Lacey Turner is excited to start Strictly Come Dancing(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)
Lacey Turner has vowed to show “the real me” on Strictly Come Dancing after nearly two decades of being Stacey Slater on EastEnders.
The popular 38-year-old, who has won four National TV Awards thanks to her soap role, is amongst the favourites to win the BBC series.
But she insisted for her the main thing is coming out from behind her character.
Lacey said: “I think it would just be nice for people to maybe see me as me. You play the same character for 21 years, and there are obviously bits of me in Stacey, but we are so different. Hopefully on Strictly people will be able to separate me from the character and learn more about me.
“It’s mainly for myself and my children. I want to show them that you can do anything if you’re brave and you work hard.”
Asked why she finally said ‘yes’ having been asked in the past, she added: “I’ve always wanted to do it, but I’ve just never been brave enough. I’ve had a friend do it every year, so I know how hard it is. A lot of my friends are physically fit, and they have been exhausted.
“So, whilst I’m not working on EastEnders this year, I thought it might be a good time to do it because I’m not sure I am physically or mentally fit enough to do both jobs at the same time as well as run a household with three feral children!”
Lacey also said that despite being one of the favourites to win Strictly she will need to make huge improvements when it comes to dancing.
She said: “All I’ve done on dance floors for the past 25 years is put my right arm up and point it in the air!
“I’m excited to learn something new and to be a part of this whole glittery shenanigan. But I am absolutely terrified and hoping that will go once I’m in the training room and I can get into it. I’m going to create a character that I can play on a Saturday night, as that’s the only way I’ll get out there I think!
“I’m actually most looking forward to the training. I think that I will enjoy that bit of it the most, and meeting everybody else.
“I’m obviously most terrified about the live Saturday nights and sitting in the makeup chair for that long, I’m not very good at that! I’m going to try my best and work on my patience.”
Lacey began acting at a young age whilst still at school and is best known for her role as Stacey on EastEnders.
Since joining the series in 2004, Lacey has won multiple awards for her work on the show, including several British Soap Awards and National Television Awards. Beyond EastEnders, Lacey has also appeared in a range of stage productions and television dramas including the lead role in acclaimed BBC Drama Our Girl.
She married husband Matt Kay in 2017 and the pair have three children.
On her family and friends, she said: “They’re so excited, even more excited than me! I think they’ve always wanted me to do it so they are beside themselves, especially my children.
“I think it is such a lovely experience that not many people get the opportunity to do. So, I’ve got to really enjoy it because it is a once in a lifetime thing.”
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