Roxy Shahidi revealed the advice she received from two of her Emmerdale co-stars.
The 40-year-old actress, best known for playing Leyla Harding on the ITV soap, will make her Dancing on Ice debut on Sunday (January 14). A number of soap stars have taken to the ice over the years, including two members of Roxy’s on-screen family, Matthew Wolfenden and Joe-Warren Plant.
Matthew, 43, appeared on the show in 2012 and was crowned winner of the series alongside Nina Ulanova. Nearly 10 years later, Joe-Warren followed in his on-screen dad’s footsteps, starring on the show’s 13th series in 2021.
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Despite the 21-year-old being tipped to make the final, he was forced to pull out after testing positive for COVID-19. Roxy revealed that Matthew, who recently quit the role of David Metcalfe, gave her a stern warning before she hit the ice.
(Image: WireImage)
The mum-of-one exclusively told Daily Star and other press: “My whole fictional family have all danced. Matthew just kept telling me, ‘It’s going to be really hard work’. He said to make sure you look after yourself and don’t push yourself too hard too soon because you will get injured.”
She added: “Joe’s really excited. He keeps saying ‘You’re going to be amazing’ and I’m like don’t give me that pressure Joe. I might be awful. There’s a good chance I’m going to be awful but I will do my best.”
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Roxy has portrayed Leyla since 2008 and explained she signed up for Dancing on Ice because she was keen for a new adventure. The soap star said: “It’s an adventure. I’ve been Emmerdale for so long and I absolutely love it but I think it’s good for your mind to something different and it feels like a little adventure.”
She continued: “I was more excited about it before I actually signed my contract then I just became incredibly scared because I realise how dangerous is it. As soon as you get on the ice and you start to learn you realise how little you know and how hard it’s going to be.”
With soap star’s known to have busy schedules, Roxy explained how she has been able to juggle training and working, as well as being a mum to her daughter, who was born in January 2018. “Emmerdale have been really good because I said right from the beginning that Emmerdale is my priority,” she said. “That’s my job and I can’t do three things. I can’t be a mum, learn to ice skate and work full time.”
The ITV soap made time for Roxy’s training and did so by not including her in any of the major storylines coming up. She said: “They said to me you haven’t got a massive storyline coming up so we’ll just pepper you in. So they’ve allowed me to take that step back in order to focus on Dancing on Ice.”
Dancing on Ice kicks off on Sunday, January 14 on ITV1 and ITVX
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
