Strictly Come Dancing finalist Amber Davies was once so overwhelmed by pressure that she broke down in tears backstage at a major industry event, a fellow stage star has revealed.
The Emotional Backstage Moment
West End legend Mazz Murray has shared a poignant memory of meeting Davies shortly after her Love Island win in 2017. The encounter happened at West End Live, a huge promotional event in London's Trafalgar Square where casts from multiple shows perform live.
Murray, who was starring in Mamma Mia! at the time, recalled finding Davies visibly nervous and emotional before she was due to go on stage. "She was having a little weep backstage because it had all got too much," Murray disclosed during an appearance on BBC's It Takes Two to support Davies ahead of the Strictly final.
"We forget that was a kid back then and she takes it very seriously," Murray added, emphasising the intense pressure Davies felt to prove herself to the musical theatre community following her reality TV fame.
From Reality TV to the West End Stage
Since her rise to fame, Amber Davies, now 29, has diligently built a formidable stage career. Her first major role was in 9 to 5 The Musical, which she landed soon after Love Island. She has since starred in Pretty Woman: The Musical and The Great Gatsby, and is set to play the lead role of Elle Woods in a UK tour of Legally Blonde next year.
Her extensive performance background has led some to question her place on Strictly Come Dancing, but Murray was quick to defend her friend. She revealed a crucial detail: Davies was a last-minute replacement for fellow Love Island winner Dani Dyer.
"The criteria was, Dani Dyer couldn't do it, so it had to be a Love Islander, it had to be someone who could come in and learn something overnight," Murray explained. "She had six hours to learn a routine, six hours. Not six weeks like everyone else."
Stage Colleagues Rally in Support
Murray is not the only theatre professional to champion Davies. West End star Hannah Lowther, known for roles in Six and SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, has also spoken out.
Lowther argued that musical theatre training is "completely different" from the ballroom and Latin disciplines required on Strictly. "I've trained in musical theatre," Lowther told The Mirror, "but every week I watch Strictly Come Dancing and think, 'Oh gosh, I wouldn't know how to do that.'"
She pointed out that many contestants, from actors to broadcasters, enter the competition with existing performance skills, which can be both a help and a source of heightened public expectation.
The revelations offer a glimpse into the significant pressures faced by Davies as she transitions from one highly scrutinised public arena to another, all while striving to establish her serious artistic credentials ahead of the Strictly final.
