07 October 2023 , 17:20
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Former Corrie actress Ellie Leach says being on Strictly Come Dancing is helping her build up her self-confidence - something she has struggled with all of her life.
The 22-year-old took to the Strictly dance floor for the second time this weekend with her professional partner Vito Coppola, performing a Foxtrot to Fairground Attraction’s Perfect. The young star, who landed the role of Faye Windass in Corrie aged just nine, says that despite her successful acting career, she still only sees her faults.
Ellie said: “Self-confidence is something I’ve always struggled with. As an actor, people don’t see that – they think you’re this confident person and you can do anything. I’m hoping Strictly will bring that for me, push me and make me realise I’m capable of things.” She added: “Vito has taught me so much already. He tells me, ‘It’s a competition with yourself. If you’re tired, fight it, if you’re stressed, fight it’. I also don’t praise myself enough, I just focus on the wrong. But then he’ll say to me, ‘Yeah, but you just did that…’”
Ellie says her partner Vito has taught he so much already (PA)
The pair took to the Strictly dance floor for the second time on Saturday (PA)Ellie, who achieved third in the leader board for her week two dance with Vito, split from her boyfriend of five years, dancer Reagan Pettman, in May after he was unfaithful. She said: “Being cheated on was upsetting, but now’s the perfect time to put my all into Strictly and give that 500%.” Her sizzling first routine with Vito won praise from all four judges last week, with head judge Shirley Ballas calling her “absolutely amazing”.
Ellie first appeared as Faye in Coronation Street at nine years old (ITV)
Ellie and her ex boyfriend Reagan (Instagram)Ellie says of getting up close and personal with her pro partner: “The physical closeness is weird. They say when you dance, two people become like one. It does help to be an actor. But poor Vito, because I’ve been sweating, I’ve been crying… I’ll cry at anything – if I’m happy, I cry, if I’m sad, I cry, if I’m excited, I cry, if I’m angry, I cry. So whether it’s tears or sweat, he’s going to end up soaked.”
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Ellie, who left Corrie in July, says she is enjoying swapping Faye’s school uniform for Strictly’s glam. She said: “At the start, I was like, ‘Sequins, glitter, make-up, clothes’. Now it’s, ‘Bruises, sweat, tears, blood’. I hadn’t anticipated how hard it would be but I’m trying my best – and hope I end up in a sequinned catsuit.”