14 October 2023 , 17:00
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Former Coronation Street star Ellie Leach credits Strictly Come Dancing for boosting her self-confidence thanks to her supportive dance partner Vito Coppola. The 22-year-old took to the Strictly dance floor for the third time last weekend with her professional partner Vito, performing a spinning Viennese to Waiting on a Miracle from Disney’s Encanto.
The judges were absolutely smitten with their performance. Judge Motsi Mabuse was practically gushing, and said the couple "brought the magic" and had a "great connection". Shirley Ballas was equally impressed, praising their "nice soft knees and footwork" and declaring Ellie to be "Miss Fluidity". Anton Du Beke summed it up perfectly when he called them a "delightful package". Even Craig Revel Horwood, who had a bit of constructive criticism, couldn't help but love their routine. The couple ended with a total score of 33 points.
The young actress started playing Faye Windass in Corrie at the age of nine (ITV)According to Ellie, Vito has been the main one to thank for her growing confidence and has been a great teacher and motivator, showering her with words of encouragement. She said: “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…’”
The young actress, who started playing Faye Windass in Corrie at the age of just nine, admitted that despite her successful acting career, she still only sees her flaws. 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.”
Ever since Ellie's first routine with Vito, she has continued to impress both the judges and fans alike. Her initial performance received high praise from all four judges, with head judge Shirley Ballas calling her "absolutely amazing." Ellie also spoke up about the physical closeness of dancing and how it's been a bit weird for her. But she's not letting that stop her from giving it her all.
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She said: “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.”
Despite the challenges of the show, Ellie is loving the opportunity to swap Faye's school uniform for Strictly's glitter and glam. She admits that she hadn't anticipated how hard it would be, but she's trying her best and hopes to end up in a sequined catsuit. 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.”