Tamzin Outhwaite is embarking on a personal journey that’s all about sequins, salsas, and conquering her fears. The 54 year old actress has gracefully stepped into the line-up for Strictly Come Dancing’s 2024 Christmas Special, partnering with salsa sensation and professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin.
Despite finding the experience “terrifying” and suffering from back pain that leaves her waking up “like a nana”, as reported by OK!
, she sees it as part of her self-challenge to focus on joy and “fill up my own cup”. “I’m just trying to stay open, get out of my comfort zone and do different things to help me grow,” Tamzin explains.
“I’m on a bit of a mission at the moment. I want to do more things that give you fear because even going through the fear is important. That’s where your growth happens as a person.”
This shift in Tamzin’s life began after menopause struck amidst her hectic schedule as an actress, mother of two, and caring daughter to her elderly father who resides “at the end of the garden”. Feeling overwhelmed, she dived into wellness, embracing breathwork, intensifying her yoga routine, and even installing a sauna in her spare room, reports the Mirror.
Tamzin Outhwaite has opened up about the importance of self-care amidst her busy life, saying: “Taking stock, taking a breath and retreating is something I’ve been learning to do so I can fill up my own cup then come back into my life and do everything that I do, which is keeping up a career, keeping up home, keeping up everything to do with my children and my dad, who lives with me at the end of the garden. It’s making sure everyone is OK. I’m not a saint but juggling all the plates and a career on top of that can be quite stifling.”
Earlier this year, Tamzin ended her six-year relationship with Tom Child, 33. This followed her divorce from actor Tom Ellis, 46, in 2014 after she reportedly discovered he had an affair with a co-star.
Despite the challenges of ending long-term relationships, Tamzin is embracing her independence and isn’t rushing into anything new. “I’m happy single,” she asserts.
“There’s a lot on! Life is really busy, throwing a relationship into that is a whole other thing. Freedom fills up my cup, freedom to do as you please is a lovely thing. That makes me happy.”
In the festive edition of Strictly, Tamzin is partnered with Nikita, who has earned a special nickname in her household with daughters Florence, 16, and Marnie, 12. “We call him Prince Charming,” reveals Tamzin.
“He just has the hair and face and the body and everything. He looks like Prince Charming.”
Throughout Strictly’s two-decade history, the dance floor has seen its fair share of sparks flying between celebrities and their dancing pros. Yet Tamzin Outhwaite insists her heart hasn’t skipped a beat for her youthful partner, chuckling, “Of course I haven’t! He’s a 26 year old man with a wonderful girlfriend.”
In rehearsal rooms filled with fun, her partner Nikita’s tutorial on the Viennese waltz was energising, with Tamzin feeling an instant connection; “He’s got such great energy,” she enthuses.
“As soon as I walked in the room I could tell that his energy was a similar vibe to mine.”
Tamzin’s brief stint in the Christmas Special gave her just a taste of the Strictly experience, which she likens to “a little snippet, a little hors d’oeuvre of Strictly”. Yet, this small sample left her craving more, becoming surprisingly captivated: “I thought, I’ll never get sucked into the Strictly thing, no way, it’s only a couple of weeks.
But I fell hook, line and sinker into this little magic bubble!
“Even so, Tamzin admits the daunting prospect of performing live is quite frightening, confessing, “The idea of doing Strictly does fill me with fear,” noting the challenge of stepping out of her comfort zone and the pressure of millions watching.
The training is demanding and takes its toll. “I’m of a certain age and waking up the following morning in agony thinking, ‘Why didn’t I do this in my forties? ‘ I’ve been holding the frame of a Viennese waltz, which I’ve never done, and my back was in such an alien position but it felt beautiful to do it. But dancing brought all the joy of dance back into my life – it sounds cheesy but it’s real and it really happened.”
Last year’s EastEnders’ Jamie Borthwick enjoyed the festive special so much that he joined this year’s main competition.
When asked if she would sign up for 2025, Tamzin expressed her fears: “It would terrify me,” admitting, “I don’t think my body would hold out. Maybe I should have done it when I was younger.”
However, she’s keen on continuing to dance in a less stressful environment by attending classes: “I’ve got the bug to do a class, or do some ballroom or go to a workshop,” reveals Tamzin. She has also started her own charity called We Free Women, offering free retreats for overburdened women in need of self-care.
“We’re helping women who are stuck and who can’t carry the load,” Tamzin explains. “Women are the people who really hold society and family together a lot of the time and when they hit a certain age and menopause kicks in they can’t keep spinning all the plates. That’s how I felt three or four years ago. I was on a retreat and I came up with this idea and then basically I got an influx of people saying, ‘This is what I need, I need to escape from life and not be a plate spinner.'” Now, alongside her acting career, Tamzin organises six retreats annually for groups of eight to 10 women.
She reveals, “They’re completely financed from fundraising. It’s a wonderful, life-affirming thing and I really love doing it.”
Maintaining a strong circle of friends is also part of Tamzin’s self-care routine, including TV personalities like Lisa Faulkner, Amanda Holden, Sarah Parish, and Angela Griffin. As our interview takes place, she’s gearing up for a festive weekend with her close-knit group of friends, although she admits to being slightly preoccupied with thoughts of Strictly.
“I’m seeing them all this weekend, which I’m really excited about,” Tamzin shares. “It’s our Christmas weekend we do every year – I must remember not to bore them with my Strictly stuff! “.
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