Amber Davies, the 29-year-old musical theatre star from Denbigh in north Wales, has weathered her share of online storms. Yet, as she prepares to tour the UK as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical, she reflects on a journey from reality TV scepticism to theatrical acclaim, all while battling the harsh glare of public scrutiny.
The Strictly bubble and the backlash
Davies's recent stint on Strictly Come Dancing saw her reach the final alongside professional partner Nikita Kuzmin. However, the experience was marred by a torrent of online abuse. Kuzmin famously made a tearful plea for kindness during the semi-final, highlighting the hate his partner received daily. Davies believes the vitriol is intensifying. "I genuinely think it's getting worse," she says, pointing to the bandwagon effect on platforms like TikTok. Interestingly, she feels the nastiest comments came not from younger viewers but from an older demographic.
The criticism often centred on her prior dance training, despite other contestants having similar backgrounds. Davies attributes the double standard to her gender and perceived ambition. "Well, I'm a woman," she states. "And [people think] confidence comes across as being stuck-up." She was particularly stung by a newspaper article labelling her a diva, feeling it constructed a false narrative about her character.
From living room shows to West End dreams
Long before Love Island made her a household name in 2017, Davies was honing her craft. She and her older sister, Jade, staged performances in their living room, charging their nana £1.50 a ticket. At 13, she was travelling to London for training, later studying musical theatre at the Urdang Academy. After graduating, she took work on cruise ships and as a backing singer before the dating show's Instagram approach changed her trajectory.
She has no regrets about her time on Love Island, where she won with Kem Cetinay. "I had the summer of my life," she affirms, insisting her search for love was genuine. However, the subsequent leap to her first major stage role in 9 to 5 was met with accusations of being a "talentless reality TV blow-in." Davies has since silenced doubters with acclaimed performances in Bring It On, Back to the Future: The Musical, and The Great Gatsby.
"I was destined to play this role"
Her latest venture feels like a perfect fit. Landing the lead in the touring production of Legally Blonde the Musical was a "no-brainer" and a "dream role" for Davies. She connects deeply with Elle Woods's journey of being underestimated. "I feel like I was destined to play this role because I've had my own version of that," she explains. Director Nikolai Foster encouraged her to bring her own life experience to the character, grounding the famously bubbly sorority girl-turned-lawyer in reality.
The show, updated to the present day, retains iconic moments like the "bend and snap," but choreographer Leah Hill (assistant choreographer on the Wicked films) has infused it with fresh energy. "There's one section where we go from hip-hop to ballet in one breath," Davies reveals, praising Hill's innovative style.
Despite her success in film-to-stage adaptations—"Movie musicals are paying my mortgage!"—Davies is pragmatic about the industry's challenges. She acknowledges it's easier to draw audiences with familiar stories, leaving less room for original musicals in the current climate.
With over a million Instagram followers, her profile undoubtedly attracts casting directors, but she is adamant: "I've had to fight tooth and nail for roles." She is a fierce champion of others, especially her sister Jade, a swing in Les Misérables, whose talent and reputation helped legitimise Amber within the theatre community early on.
Offstage, Davies's life is anchored by her relationship with fellow performer Ben Joyce, whom she met on Back to the Future. She describes him as "the kindest soul in every room"—a far cry from the 'Love Island hunk' stereotype. They have recently bought a house together in London, where a treasured handwritten letter from Dolly Parton takes pride of place.
Despite her confident exterior, Davies battles severe nerves, tracing them back to a childhood mistake during a performance on Welsh television. "My nerves on Strictly were horrific," she admits. Yet, the drive remains undimmed. When asked about life after musical theatre, her response is unequivocal: "I literally want to do this for the rest of my life. I want to do eight shows a week for the rest of my life, and I'll be happy."
Legally Blonde the Musical begins its UK tour at Curve, Leicester, on 7 February.
