The House Of The Dragon actor has danced her way into our hearts
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY BBC/RAY BURMISTON
Strictly Come Dancing recently returned to our screens. We’re once again watching celebrities compete on the dancefloor for the Glitterball Trophy. Queer fans of the staple British show were delighted to see Bethany Antonia on this year’s line-up. Even better? She was partnered with professional dancer Nancy Xu, marking the show’s first same-sex pairing in three years. They’ve already delivered spellbinding performances. We can’t wait to watch Bethany’s Strictly journey unfold.
Want to learn more about the Strictly star? Here’s what you need to know…
She’s a Capricorn
Astrology queers will know that Capricorns are renowned for being disciplined, hard-working and focused. These are certainly the traits you need to embody when competing on Strictly.
Her resume boasts impressive acting credits
Bethany was just 14 when she landed her first professional acting role. She was cast in a 2012 short film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Fast forward to today and she’s appeared in major series such as Doctors, Get Even and Doctor Who. She is arguably best known for her role as the dragon-riding Lady Baela Targaryen in the Game Of Thrones prequel House Of The Dragon.
She’s also made a name for herself on the stage. In 2022, she played Rach in Lava at Soho Theatre. Earlier this year, she was cast as Eurydice in the West End production of the hugely popular musical Hadestown.
She’s openly queer
In 2024, when Bethany received a racist DM online, she hit back by screenshotting the message and sharing it to her stories. Under the screenshot, she wrote: “Wait till they find out I’m gay too…”
Watching Strictly Come Dancing changed her life
Speaking to DIVA, Bethany reflected on growing up watching the dance competition. “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.”
Strictly Come Dancing comes out on Saturday evenings, with the results shows airing on Sunday evenings. You can watch live on BBC One or BBC iPlayer.
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