Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Leach is hoping the BBC dancing competition will bring back her self-confidence after her boyfriend allegedly cheated on her.
The former Coronation Street actress, 22, dated dancer Reagan Pettman for five years before the pair called it quits in May this year. It was previously claimed that Ellie took “time to reflect which direction her life is going in” after she quit Corrie following 12 years playing Faye Windass.
The ex-soap star admitted professional dancer partner Vito Coppola, 31, is helping to boost her confidence and bringing out the best in her. “Self-confidence is something I’ve always struggled with,” the actress told The Mirror.
READ MORE: Strictly star Ellie Leach has very famous relative – and she’s a Corrie icon
“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.”
(Image: Instagram)
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 reportedly joined Strictly to deal with her relationship heartbreak, with sources claiming the show has helped put a smile back on her face.
(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
“She learned that Reagan had gone behind her back, and they split up. It was very sad, but for her the trust was gone and there was no way back for them as a couple,” a source previously told The Mirror. “Ellie is a really positive person and always has a smile on her face – but it’s been a difficult time.
“That’s why it was brilliant that she has landed Strictly, it has really given her something to smile about.” Following Ellie and Vito’s performance last night, fans branded her the “one to watch” in the competition.
(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)
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The duo danced the Foxtrot to Perfect by Fairground Attraction and were awarded an impressive 31 out 40 from the judges. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one viewer declared: “They’re all so good this year apart from two or three. Ellie is the one to watch. Deffo could win this.”
A second agreed: “Ellie is definitely an underdog in this competition! She’s stunning, great dancer.” Echoing this, another fan said: “Ellie’s definitely winning this series. It was written in the cards last week”. While a fourth shared: “Ellie is sensational. She’s got to be a front runner for the win”.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
