Jaime Winstone has admitted that Strictly Come Dancing leaves her shaking with fear, as the BBC dance contest proves far more emotionally gruelling than she ever imagined. The actress, known for gritty dramas like Kidulthood and Dead Set, says performing as herself in front of millions is a terrifying experience, and the pressure has even reduced her to tears during rehearsals.
Nowhere to Hide on the Dance Floor
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Jaime explained that unlike acting, where she can hide behind characters, Strictly forces her to be vulnerable on camera. "Just suddenly allowing myself to be vulnerable on camera with my co-actor, my performer, my partner, my teacher. It's a big thing," she said.
"You hear your name being called out and it's a new level of fear. Your body reacts differently to the audience, your nervous system takes hold, you're a little bit more shaky." Jaime, daughter of Hollywood hard man Ray Winstone, added that she has spent her whole life not looking down the camera, and now suddenly she is having to face it directly.
Emotional Toll and Family Support
The 32-year-old, partnered with reigning champion pro dancer Carlos Gu, has sometimes felt completely overwhelmed, especially after finding herself in the dance off in week three. She admitted it has been more emotional than she thought, requiring her to rewire her body for the weekly pace of learning something new.
Thankfully, she has her entire family watching her on Saturday, including dad Ray, who was in the audience for the first time during icons week. "It felt amazing to have them all there," she smiled. "My dad's super proud. After the show on Saturday he was just like, 'You did really good. You performed it. You looked amazing!'". Her 34 points made her joint top of the leaderboard at the weekend.
Confidence and Newfound Sexiness
Despite the challenges, Jaime says she feels sexier now than in her twenties and is embracing the chance to show a different side of herself. "I'm leaning into that sexiness," she laughed. "There's dancers who look incredible but we're all different shapes and sizes, we're all sexy in our own way."
She is also loving the exercise, noting that dancers need to eat well and stay hydrated. "I'm in my athlete era, for sure. It's great," she said. Carlos Gu insists he is determined to help Jaime embrace every side of herself, including the vulnerability she has found so difficult to show. "I want her enjoying every single moment," he explained, "and let people see how fabulous she is, even the vulnerable side of her."
Despite the tears, nerves and exhaustion, Jaime insists she wouldn't change the experience for anything, saying she is having the time of her life and enjoying the challenge of dancing and giving the audience a great show.
