Jaime Winstone is stepping into the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom after deciding that 2026 was finally the right year to take on the BBC show.
The actress has been asked to appear on Strictly before but says work commitments and being a full-time mum meant the timing was never right.
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Having turned 40 last year, Jaime decided it was time to embrace the opportunity and show audiences another side of herself.
Why did Jaime Winstone say yes to Strictly?
Jaime said joining Strictly simply "felt right" after years of being busy with acting work and motherhood.
Music and dance have always been a huge part of her life, with the actress describing herself as a mother, an actor and a raver.
She also believes there were some very clear signs that this should finally be her Strictly year.
One came from Madonna's new album and its track featuring the lyrics 'everybody get up and dance', which Jaime took as a personal message given her love of the singer.
She revealed that there is not a room in her house without a disco ball.
Another memorable sign came when she attended her friend Poppy Delevingne's birthday party and found herself dancing alongside Taylor Swift.
Swift apparently approached her and asked, 'Oh my lord, how do you dance so freely?'.
For Jaime, receiving that reaction from someone of Swift's calibre felt like another clear indication that she should take the plunge.
"I've done every sort of gritty drama you possibly could do, and I usually play people quite a lot older than me, and I just thought: this is the time to step into a realm that I don't know, which is the ballroom, and give it a real good go."
She also has another very personal reason for taking part, with Jaime expecting her grandmother to be particularly excited.
"Oh and another big reason is my Nan! My Nan is going to lose her marbles over this!"
What is Jaime Winstone most nervous about on Strictly?
Jaime is excited about learning completely new dances and discovering how far she can push her muscle memory.
As an actor, she is particularly interested in understanding the characters and essence behind each dance.
She said she normally uses music when developing a character, meaning some aspects of the Strictly experience already feel familiar.
Remembering the choreography will be a different challenge, however, with Jaime comparing learning footwork to remembering lines for a play.
"I keep trying to say to myself, 'dancing is acting' – you remember where to stand, you remember where to go, you remember when to say your lines at the right time."
She is also worried that her tendency to daydream and add her own personality to things could prove difficult for her professional dance partner.
Jaime admits she will have to learn to trust her partner rather than trying to control every part of her performance.
She is also nervous about falling, although that has not stopped her from wanting to attempt lifts and be thrown around on the dancefloor.
Can Jaime Winstone dance?
Jaime describes her dancing ability as very different from the controlled routines she will be expected to perform on Strictly.
She has never taken a dance lesson and has never learned a proper routine.
Her natural style includes a lot of hand movements and she says she is particularly interested in the voguing scene.
"I've always said the three things that describe me are; I'm a mother, I'm an actor, and I'm a raver."
She is now looking forward to discovering how her natural dancing translates into the Strictly ballroom.
What did Jaime Winstone's family say about Strictly?
Jaime's family were thrilled when she revealed that she was joining the Strictly cast.
Her mum screamed with excitement, while her dad responded with an amused "oh my lord".
Her mother-in-law was particularly excited because she is such a huge Strictly fan.
Jaime said her family and friends all reacted with the same blind confidence that she was going to win the competition.
She joked that the women in her family were considerably more enthusiastic than the men.
What does Jaime Winstone want to achieve on Strictly?
Jaime wants to use Strictly as an opportunity to learn about traditional dance and take skills from the experience into her professional life.
She hopes the show could eventually lead to opportunities in dance, musical theatre or film.
"I hope I take some amazing dance moves with me that I've never had the opportunity to learn, and I hope I make a lot of friends!"
Jaime has dreamed about entering the world of ballroom dancing since she was a child watching Strictly Ballroom.
She said she always fantasised about being a dancer, wearing the costumes and entering a world that she described as glittery, tanned and camp.
What song does Jaime Winstone want to dance to?
Jaime already has several ideas for songs she would love to perform to during her Strictly journey.
Her dream would be to dance a tango to Neil Diamond's 'Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon'.
For Movie Week, she would love to take inspiration from Grease or Pretty Woman.
She also has her sights set on a Kate Bush-inspired performance to 'Running Up That Hill'.
A Madonna-inspired routine would be another dream, with Jaime particularly drawn to the energy of 'Material Girl'.
Which Strictly 2026 contestants does Jaime Winstone know?
Jaime already knows several of her fellow Strictly 2026 contestants.
She is friends with Dani Dyer, who she described as "such a mega babe".
Jaime has worked with Dani's dad, while their dads have also worked together, and their children have bonded.
She also knows Lacey Turner after working with her on a Dominic Savage film.
Jaime previously appeared in EastEnders for a couple of episodes playing Peggy Mitchell.
She is already excited about the friendships that could develop during the competition and believes there is a strong group of women taking part.
"There seems to be a really good girl gang taking part. I'm excited to meet new friends!"
What is Jaime Winstone's backstage ritual?
Jaime is used to having a chaotic schedule and relies on meditation and breathing exercises to find some calm.
She also likes surrounding herself with glamorous things, admitting that she takes a suitcase full of feather boas and glittery items wherever she goes.
At home, she jokes that her husband does not allow her to decorate the entire house like a boudoir.
What could Jaime Winstone do for Strictly Movie Week?
Jaime has several of her previous acting roles in mind when thinking about potential Movie Week performances.
Made in Dagenham would allow her to explore a 1960s-inspired routine based around the film's themes of protest and female empowerment.
She also thinks her role in Babs, the Barbara Windsor biopic, could inspire a Carry On Camping-themed dance.
Another possibility would be a Love, Rosie-inspired waltz.
With a love of music, performance, dressing up and dancing already central to Jaime's personality, she is now ready to discover whether her natural energy can translate to the Strictly ballroom.
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