Opera singer Camilla Kerslake, 37, is married to former England rugby captain and Strictly Come Dancing star Chris Robshaw, 39. Despite her husband's dance floor prowess, she admits she would be 'rubbish' on the show. 'They say some people are triple threats; singing, acting and dancing… Well, I can sing. Can I act? Questionable. Can I dance? Definitely not,' she told OK! at the Football For Peace Water Gala at London's CÉ LA VIE restaurant.
Camilla was a regular in the Strictly audience last year, cheering on Chris and his pro partner Nadiya Bychkova before they became the third couple eliminated. The couple first met when she sang the national anthem at England games. 'He was made captain a year into our relationship, and I think I sang two or three more times and then decided to sit down. I thought it was better for me to support him from the stands, and I didn't want him to have to think about anything except rugby,' she recalls.
Marriage and Family Life
The pair married in 2018 and have two sons: Wilding, five, and Hunter, one. Balancing careers with home life is a juggle. 'I'm a jobbing singer; I go from job to job. The highs definitely make it worthwhile, but it can be tricky to navigate. It's exhausting planning the diaries. You have to plough on, keep practising and keep as fit as possible,' says Camilla, who found fame after signing to Gary Barlow's Future Records.
She compares her training as a soprano to that of an athlete. 'You have to train like an athlete, so that's probably why Chris and I got on so well in the beginning.'
Approaching 10 years of marriage, Camilla is open to renewing vows. 'I would like to, actually. I was five when my mum and stepfather got married, and I remember it really fondly. There's something magical about having children at a wedding, they can share the love.' However, she is not keen on expanding the family. 'I think I'm done. They say one is really nice and sort of like the miracle of creation. Then going from one to two feels like going from like one to 27! I think I'm happy with my little family of four. We're like a little square, with our dog in the middle.'
Raising Emotionally Intelligent Boys
Camilla wants to raise her sons to be kind and fair. 'I want to raise the boys to be emotionally intelligent and kind and to understand that everyone deserves to be treated fairly and equally. I think that's going to be my contribution to the world.'
Wilding already shows athletic promise, playing cricket and football, while Hunter dances to any rhythm, even the coffee machine.
Life After Rugby
Chris retired from rugby in 2022 after winning 66 England caps. Now he is home more often, which Camilla embraces. 'I love him, and like having him around. He works away doing punditry quite a lot at the weekend, as do I. But we make it work. We're both incredibly supportive of each other's careers.' She also appreciates the absence of rugby injuries. 'It's nice he's not in pain all the time. He used to always be really sore, but now he and the boys can have a real wrestle – and we can have a proper cuddle.'
Cosmetic Procedures and Honesty
Camilla recently went public about laser treatment that left her face red and inflamed. 'You can still see the marks in the light. But I'd done a bit of research, and knew what to expect. I knew I had to go to a doctor who had loads of experience and the best machines. It was the first serious thing I've had done.' She also admits to Botox and salmon sperm facials, and does not rule out a facelift in the future. Her openness was inspired by comedian Katherine Ryan, who revealed a full facelift. 'She looks fantastic. One reason I made it public was I was quite inspired by her. But also I got cross with people saying it was 'lemon water and Pilates'. I thought, 'That's rubbish, I'm telling the truth.''
Fitness and Future Plans
Camilla focuses on weights and yoga to stay fit. 'I mainly do weights, and yoga once a week. That's my non-negotiable. I have no interest in having osteoporosis, so I add more weights. The only cardio I really do is pushing my kids to nursery and school in the buggy. It's uphill.' She and Chris have a gym in the garage, but it is far from glamorous. 'You're picking leaves and spiders out of your hair!'
Despite being a city dweller, Camilla was once asked to do Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls. 'I wish I'd done it. It would've been good for me and given me some grit. I can survive the urban jungle, but can I survive in the wild? Probably not.'
