Dancing On Ice professional skater Vanessa Bauer has opened up about her wedding plans with fiancé James Rowe and her surprising career shift from skating to acting. The 30-year-old German-born star, who won the ITV show with Jake Quickenden in 2018 and appeared for eight years until the series ended in 2025, is now making waves in Hollywood.
Engagement and Wedding Plans
Vanessa became engaged to football agent James Rowe in December last year during a romantic proposal on a frozen lake in Banff, Canada. Speaking exclusively, she said: “Being engaged just tightens that bond. I’m loving calling him my fiancé.” The couple is considering wedding venues in Bali, where Vanessa has Indonesian heritage, or Sicily, which stole her heart during a recent visit. However, she admitted planning is on hold due to her busy schedule. She also expressed a desire to start a family with James when the time is right.
From Ice Rink to Big Screen
Vanessa has successfully transitioned into acting, landing two film roles. She played an ice skater in the Netflix crime comedy The Thursday Murder Club, where she also taught actor Tom Ellis to skate. Now, she takes her first lead role in the action film Rise Of The Footsoldier: Retribution, set for release in August. The film premiered at Cannes, where Vanessa attended for the first time. “It felt unreal to see my character on the big screen,” she said.
In the film, she portrays Isabella Chaika, a woman who loses her family and works undercover for the CIA. Vanessa described the role as “very powerful” and physically demanding, involving fight scenes and gun handling. Filming took place in Ibiza and the UK.
Future Aspirations
Vanessa hopes to combine acting and figure skating in future roles, inspired by films like I, Tonya. She is open to diverse roles and would love to see figure skating return to TV entertainment shows. Reflecting on her late father Marco, who passed away in 2021, she said: “His spirit is always with me, especially during big milestones.” She credits him for her adventurous spirit and love for music, often skating to his favorite songs like Pink Floyd and Dire Straits.
Rise Of The Footsoldier: Retribution is exclusively in cinemas from 28 August.
