Strictly Come Dancing star Amber Davies is steadfastly refusing to let her mind wander to the glitterball trophy, despite achieving the show's top score two weeks running. The West End actress, 29, and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin, 27, dazzled with a perfect score of 40 for their Musicals Week Charleston, hot on the heels of another flawless 40 for their Jive the previous week.
Taking Strictly One Week at a Time
Speaking ahead of her latest triumph, Davies admitted she is deliberately keeping her expectations in check. The shock exit of fellow contestant Vicky Pattison, who went "from the top of the leaderboard to leaving" in just seven days, served as a stark reminder of the competition's unpredictability. "You just never know," Davies explained. "The competition is so unpredictable."
Despite fans labelling Musicals Week as her natural domain, the theatre star insists she has not planned beyond each Saturday night. "When I said I was taking it one week at a time, I meant it," she said. "I came into the competition in such a peculiar way, I was on the back foot and catching up from day one. I didn't dare dream ahead."
A Whirlwind Entry and a Supportive Partnership
Davies' Strictly journey began in a frenzy after she received a last-minute call to replace the injured Dani Dyer. Describing it as "the greatest phone call of my life," she was confirmed on a Thursday night, met Kuzmin on Friday morning, and performed her first camera block that evening. "It was the most wonderful, bizarre, terrifying 48 hours," she recalled.
Thrown into the deep end, the pair had to bond instantly. Davies credits their success to creating a protective "bubble," shutting out social media and external noise. Professional partner Nikita Kuzmin praised her relentless drive, joking, "She asks over 900 questions a day I am sure."
High Scores and a Reset Mindset
Their strategy has clearly paid off, with judges awarding top marks for two consecutive dances. After their Charleston to 'Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat', Davies quipped sarcastically, "It was so under-marked again — honestly, what is happening?"
However, she is quick to point out that past success offers no guarantees. "Every dance is a reset. The jive is nothing like the Charleston. New week, new mindset," she stated, highlighting the intense pressure of learning brand new choreography weekly compared to her usual theatre routine.
With the final looming, Davies remains resolute. Citing fellow competitors like perceived frontrunner Lewis and dark horse Karen, she concluded, "If you set yourself up for disappointment, that’s on you... You absolutely cannot get ahead of yourself. You just never know on Strictly — and that’s why I’m taking it one week at a time."
