Strictly Come Dancing Star Rose Ayling-Ellis Admits She ‘Hated’ Iconic Dance with Giovanni Pernice

Rose Ayling-Ellis, the EastEnders actress who won Strictly Come Dancing alongside Giovanni Pernice in 2021, has opened up about her experience on the show, revealing that she initially “hated” the concept for one of their most iconic performances, reports Birmingham Live.

While Rose and Giovanni impressed the audience with their moving routine performed in complete silence to reflect Rose’s experience as a deaf person, the 29-year-old actress admitted she initially feared the dance would come across as seeking sympathy votes. Speaking to The Guardian, Rose shared her concerns: “I hated it. I watched this pre-recorded video by external choreographers and immediately didn’t like what they’d come up with. I was up for the idea, as long as it wasn’t a patronizing stunt.”

Rose felt the original concept misunderstood the deaf experience, describing it as “an attempt to get the pity vote, all sad, dreary, and ‘poor me’.” She added, “It was what hearing people think deaf people experience. Very insular, cut-off, small. It was so sad. And that’s not me.”

Rose explained that she agreed to participate in Strictly under certain conditions, ensuring the portrayal was authentic to her experience. To her surprise, the show’s producers exceeded her expectations, going further than she had initially asked. Reflecting on her first day, she said, “Everyone finger-spelled their name to me. It was a special gesture.”

Claudia Winkleman, host of Strictly, also praised Rose, stating, “Rose isn’t astonishing because she won a dance contest while not hearing the music. She’s utterly brilliant because she’s genuinely hilarious, ridiculously humble, and bonkers talented.”

Rose also spoke about the opportunities that have come her way since her Strictly win, acknowledging the responsibility she feels. “I’ve had so many opportunities because of all this. And I’m in this position where people are listening to me. It comes with a sense of responsibility: I don’t want to make a mistake or let the deaf community down. It feels like a lot is on my shoulders.”

Despite the initial hesitation, Rose’s journey on Strictly Come Dancing has left a lasting impact, not only on her career but on the way deafness is perceived and represented in mainstream media.