Bethany Antonia, the actress and singer hailing from Quinton, Birmingham, is set to take to the dance floor in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. With the launch show airing tonight, excitement is building around the new series, which features a fresh line-up of celebrities eager to embrace the challenge of Latin and ballroom dancing.
Now 28, Bethany moved from Quinton to a small town in France’s Charente-Maritime region at the age of six. Spending five formative years abroad, she recalls the challenges of adapting to a new language and culture but treasures the experience.
Bethany’s career highlights include her acclaimed role as Lady Baela Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon, a part she has played since the series began in 2022 and is expected to reprise in the forthcoming fourth season. Her television credits also include appearances in the teen thriller Get Even, the Netflix and BBC drama Stay Close, and ITV’s biographical series Nolly. Theatre fans may also recognise her from her West End debut as Eurydice in Hadestown at the National Theatre.
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Speaking to the BBC, Bethany expressed her enthusiasm about joining Strictly Come Dancing. “I can’t quite believe that I will be heading to the Strictly ballroom! I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and hopefully learn a new skill. See you on the dancefloor!”
The decision to participate holds special significance for Bethany this year. She shared that the loss of her grandmother earlier in the year brought a meaningful motivation to be part of the show. “The timing of the offer felt like a gift from her, and so I had no choice, I was like, ‘it’s a yes!’. I am doing it for her.”
Bethany publicly came out as gay in April 2024 ahead of the second season of House of the Dragon, bravely sharing an experience of receiving hateful and racist messages online.
The Strictly Come Dancing launch show, which will reveal the pairings, begins at 7.25pm on Saturday, 19 September, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Fans eagerly await to see how Bethany adapts to the rhythms and routines of the competition as she bids to impress the judges and viewers alike.