DIVA sat down with these Strictly stars about their week one dance, representation and preparing for the Paso Doble
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY GUY LEVY
House Of The Dragon fans everywhere gasped when Bethany Antonia perched upon a regal throne for her Strictly Come Dancing week one dance. Dancing the Quickstep with Nancy Xu, even the judges couldn’t contain their awe at her performance. Famously harsh judge Craig Revel Horwood even described it as “the first bit of good dancing we’ve seen all night!” High praise indeed.
Speaking to DIVA about stepping onto the iconic ballroom floor, Bethany said: “I have never experienced nervousness like that in my life. It was so surreal and so much fun!”
Nancy added, “To see her shine on that dance floor gives me the most happiness. Bethany worked so hard. Every day she surprises me. In our first rehearsal, I said to myself, ‘Nancy, you have a diamond in your hand’.”
Known for playing Lady Baela Targaryen in House Of The Dragon, Bethany joined celebs like Dani Dyer and Will Best for the latest series of the hit BBC show. Paired with Nancy Xu, the couple mark the show’s first same-sex couple in three years. As a Strictly fan herself, Bethany was very emotional to be paired with Nancy.
“It feels like the biggest privilege to get to do this,” Bethany told DIVA. “I grew up watching Strictly, and I can’t stress how important it is to be the example you want to see and to be the change that you want to feel. Watching Nicola Adams and Katya Jones be the first same-sex partnership in 2020 really changed my life.”
Nancy was also overjoyed by the pairing. “We wanted to bring joy and share love. We want to show the whole world that when two girls dance together, it’s powerful. It’s beautiful!”
Heading into week two, audiences can expect the pair to perform the Paso Doble, soundtracked by No Good Deed from the film Wicked: For Good. “My little heart is so happy!” Bethany exclaimed. “Everything hurts. Every single muscle in my body hurts. But it feels like a real treat to be given that week two. And I just hope that we do it justice.”
What does she hope queer audiences take away from tomorrow? “I hope they take away that we are not about to shy away from anything,” Bethany said. “And that we’re not going to fall into any prescribed stereotypes. I think we’re both making a real effort to be the change we want to see and to represent a community correctly and in a way that feels right for both of us.”
You can watch Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday at 6:15 pm on BBC One.
Love media made by and for LGBTQIA+ women and gender diverse people? Then you’ll love DIVA. We’ve been spotlighting the community for over 30 years. Here’s how you can get behind queer media and keep us going for another generation: linkin.bio/ig-divamagazine
Did you know that DIVA has now become a charity? Our magazine is published by the DIVA Charitable Trust. You can find out more about the organisation and how you can offer your support here: divacharitabletrust.com
