FROM the moment she signed up for Strictly, Amber Davies faced a backlash from fans moaning that her dance experience meant she should not be in the competition.
Her West End theatre background led to criticism from some viewers adamant she had an unfair advantage over “amateur” celebs on the BBC One show.
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Amber Davies has faced controversy on Strictly because of her West End backgroundCredit: BBC
Amber has been paired with pro Nikita Kuzmin in the contestCredit: PA
Amber shot to fame on Love IslandCredit: PA
But Amber, 29, was determined to ignore the jibes.
And she has now made it to week seven of the contest with professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin — who we revealed last weekend had been seen placing a tender kiss on her head after training, while caressing the back of her hair and neck.
Amber, who was confirmed as a replacement for injured Dani Dyer just 24 hours before the first live show in September, said of her hard time from critics: “We’ve seen this for a while now.
“I’m very good friends with 2023 runner-up Layton Williams and we saw it with him.
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“It comes up every single year — there’s someone who is a performer or in that realm.
“So I am doing my very best not to look and listen to anything.
“I’m blocking out that noise and just being present in the moment.
“I am putting me, Nikita and Strictly in a bubble.
“All I want to do is go out there and enjoy the work we’ve done for the week, be in the moment and make us proud.
“My motto for Strictly has been, just zone in and be present.”
Ukrainian dancer Nikita was paired two years ago with Billy Elliot star Layton, who was also targeted online over his stage experience — even though their dance partnership went down a treat with judges.
So when Layton saw history repeating itself this year, he called on his fans and the West End community to back Amber.
And she says her personal social media pages have now been inundated with support.
Amber added: “It’s just so nice.
“I think the nicest thing is knowing that people have voted for us.
“There is always a million positive messages and a few people who want to say something negative, absolutely.
‘NEW LEASE OF LIFE’
“Everybody’s entitled to their opinion but, for this experience, I want to remember it to be the most positive and life-changing.
“It’s my dream to be here, so I want to do everything I can to keep it positive.”
Of her friendship with Layton, who made the Strictly final, Amber said: “Obviously, he was the first person I spoke to when I got the call, and we just froze on FaceTime for two minutes.
“We just couldn’t speak.
“I have been calling him for advice and he said his phone is always on.
“He is our No1 fan and Nikita loves him as much as I do.
“I can always call him, which is so lovely to have in such an intense process.”
Amber’s journey on the show has not been plain sailing.
She has been praised by the judges, never dropping below fourth place on the leaderboard and notching up an impressive 35 points for her Viennese Waltz last weekend.
But that hasn’t been enough to keep her from the dance-off.
She went head-to-head with former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and his dance partner Lauren Oakley during Icons Week and was saved by the judges.
Amber and Nikita during Icons Week, when they faced the dance-offCredit: Instagram/amb_d
Amber and Nikita during rehearsalsCredit: Eroteme
And with just hours to go before this week’s show, bookies William Hill slashed her odds of getting the boot from 12/1 to 5/1.
Far from bringing her down, Amber insists the close call has given her a “new lease of life”.
But admitting the lows are challenging, she said: “It’s just the worst feeling in the world.
“I feel like, from the start, a lot of, ‘Oh, she’s a dancer’ has come up on social media, so I was terrified to open up the social media apps.
“But everyone has been so kind, so lovely. I feel so loved.
“I’ve had a new lease of life, there have been no negative words of affirmation coming out of my mouth.
“I’ve had a second chance, so I want to enjoy it as much as I can.
I’m not regretful of Love Island at all because I was meant to do it and it was the best summer of my life
Amber Davies
“Anything can happen and it makes you appreciate things even more.”
Welsh beauty Amber shot to fame in 2017, on series three of Love Island — which she went on to win with Kem Cetinay.
Since then, she has carved out a successful career in the theatre, taking on roles such as Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman when the production toured the UK and Ireland, and Jordan Baker in West End show The Great Gatsby.
Next year, she will play Elle Woods in the stage version of Legally Blonde — the romcom made famous by Reese Witherspoon.
With her star rising in the theatre world, Amber could be forgiven for wanting to gloss over her dating show past.
But she insists she will for ever be grateful to Love Island, revealing: “I always say I would never want to chop off the hand that helped me up.
“I’m not regretful of Love Island at all because I was meant to do it and it was the best summer of my life.
“It doesn’t really bother me at all because that is my story.
Amber won Love Island with Kem Cetinay in 2017Credit: Rex Features
Amber and boyfriend Ben JoyceCredit: Getty
“I went on Love Island and I would never want to forget it. How many people can say they won Love Island?
“Sometimes I think, ‘Oh my gosh, I actually won’. It’s just crazy.”
Amber’s relationship with Kem propelled her to victory, and she will be hoping her latest TV partnership does the same.
While she is loved up with her boyfriend — fellow West End performer Ben Joyce — she credits Nikita for her success on Strictly.
And she made her feelings for him clear, saying: “I don’t think anyone has believed in me more than Nikita.
“He is so confident that I can be the best version of myself every single week.
“I love him, I wouldn’t change him for the world.
“I keep saying to him and everyone in the production team I could not imagine being with anybody else.
“The way that he teaches, I receive really well and I think we have a really good balance of work hard, but also have fun.”
‘EVERYTHING HURT’
That tough graft is taking its toll on Amber’s tiny frame, though.
Despite admitting she was at peak fitness after a six-month run on The Great Gatsby, performing eight shows a week, she says Strictly’s impact on her body has been huge, adding: “I’m one big blister, seriously
“My feet are in bits.
“You underestimate how difficult blisters can make your life.
“I’ve only just been able to wear a trainer because my feet have been in bits.
“It’s just the first shower after the rehearsal day that stings like hell.
“My whole body is in bits, to be honest.
“It’s engaging muscles I haven’t used since I was in my teens.
“So walking up the stairs after doing the samba was interesting and very difficult — everything hurt.
“But they have an incredible team here, they look after everybody so well.
“I’ve been having magnesium salt baths, always good for your muscles.
“It helps that I think I was in good shape coming from Gatsby.
“I was doing eight shows a week for six months and that gives you a base level of fitness.
Amber during a performance of The Great GatsbyCredit: Getty
Amber will play Elle Woods in Legally Blonde on the West End next year
“Strictly certainly couldn’t have come at a better time.
“If I’d been on holiday before and a few margaritas in, it would have been different.”
And there is no chance of Amber taking her foot off the gas just yet because while she is a favourite to make next month’s final, she has also set her own goal on the show.
She said: “Right in this moment, my goal is Blackpool.
“You can’t think about the final, it’s too far away. But I would love to get to Blackpool, that’s a good goal.
“I’ve been to Blackpool and never performed there, so it would be my first time and it’s actually my favourite week on Strictly.
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“I love Blackpool. It’s another level.”
- Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight on BBC One at 6.25pm.
