Ellie Leach is shocked at how much 'Strictly Come Dancing' "changed" her life.

Ellie Leach won the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing and is amazed at how the series changed her life

Ellie Leach won the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing and is amazed at how the series changed her life

The 23-year-old actress had played the role of Faye Windass on the ITV soap opera 'Coronation Street' for more than a decade before she signed up to appear on the BBC Latin and ballroom show in 2023 and ended up winning the series alongside professional partner Vito Coppola but admitted that she went into the whole experience with little "expectations" of how it would benefit her career.

She told ILoveManchester: "I can’t believe how much the whole experience changed my life, I didn’t have that many expectations of 'Strictly' beforehand but it completely exceeded anything that I expected and lifting the glitterball just topped off the most amazing experience!

"I just feel so grateful that people supported me and Vito and voted for us every week!"

The soap star has stepped in as a replacement for fellow former 'Corrie' actress Helen Flanagan - who played the role of Rosie Webster on the serial - in the cast of the touring production of 'Cluedo 2' and explained that the 'Strictly' arena tour has prepared her to tread the boards in a play for the first time.

She said: "Thousands came to watch the 'Strictly' tour and it did give me a sense of what it is like to perform in front of a live audience.

"It’s been amazing to take on this new experience and do something different to TV, which is practically at the other end of the acting scale.

"Television is very naturalistic and on stage, everything happens a thousand times bigger. But that’s what’s so exciting.

"I was really looking forward to making my stage debut and so far its been so much fun! I’ve already learnt so much and I know I will continue to learn more and more about theatre, the play and myself in the process!

"I’m also really looking forward to touring the country and getting to see beautiful theatres and beautiful places that I haven’t seen before."

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