Actress Jaime Winstone has revealed pop superstar Taylor Swift persuaded her to sign up for Strictly Come Dancing after admiring her raver dance moves at a celebrity party.
The 41-year-old star is one of 15 celebrities signed up for the 2026 series of the BBC show, which returns to screens on Saturday, September 19.
Winstone admitted that after previously turning down invitations to join the dance contest due to work commitments and family life, she finally felt ready to share her energetic style with television viewers.
The long-running BBC entertainment series pairs famous faces with professional ballroom dancers as they perform live routines each week for a panel of judges and a public vote.
Explaining how the unexpected endorsement occurred, Winstone recalled attending a birthday celebration for her friend Poppy Delevingne a few months ago, where Swift was also among the guests.
Winstone said Swift approached her out of nowhere on the dance floor and asked her: "Oh my lord, how do you dance so freely?"
"When someone of her calibre and status says that, it's a very clear sign!" Winstone revealed, explaining that the interaction convinced her this year was the right time to take part.
Swift, a multi-Grammy-winning singer and songwriter who has broken global box office and charting records, was pictured arriving at the event alongside her husband, NFL star Travis Kelce.
Madonna and Disco Balls
The encounter with Swift was not the only sign that convinced Winstone to join the line-up. She also experienced a lightbulb moment while listening to music by another global pop megastar.
As a devoted fan of Madonna, Winstone heard the lyric "everybody get up and dance" on the singer's new album and took it as a direct personal sign to enter the competition.
"I took that as a personal sign as I'm such a huge Madonna fan," she confessed, revealing her lifelong passion for music and dancing. "There's not a room in my house without a disco ball!"
Winstone explained that her signature dance moves draw inspiration directly from the 68-year-old pop icon, particularly from the club scene.
"I do a lot of stuff with my hands," Winstone said. "I am quite up into the voguing scene."
Voguing originated in Harlem ballroom culture during the late 20th century before Madonna famously brought the stylized dance form into mainstream pop culture with her 1990 hit single Vogue.
Describing her personality and lifestyle, Winstone highlighted three key elements that define her identity. "I've always said the three things that describe me are; I'm a mother, I'm an actor, and I'm a raver," she declared.
She acknowledged that strictly structured ballroom routines will present a brand new challenge, as she has never taken formal dance lessons.
"I'm not a controlled dancer, I've never done a dance lesson in my life and I've never done a routine, so I'm quite excited to see how I get on with that," she admitted.
From Gritty Drama to the Ballroom
Winstone is the daughter of veteran actor Ray Winstone, who built a renowned career playing tough-guy roles in acclaimed British film and television projects such as Scum, Sexy Beast, and The Departed.
Having turned 40 last year, Winstone said she decided it was time to embrace the opportunity fully. "I have been asked before and I've always been working and busy or just being full-on mum, but I turned 40 last year and I've really got to just lean into this moment," she gushed.
She added: "A lot of people in my life know how much I love dancing, music and dance is such a big part of who I am. There were some clear signs that this should be my Strictly year."
Looking forward to trading gritty screen roles for sequins and glitter, Winstone noted her long history of playing intense dramatic characters.
"I've done every sort of gritty drama you possibly could do, and I usually play people quite a lot older than me," Winstone pointed out. "I just thought: this is the time to step into a realm that I don't know, which is the ballroom, and give it a real good go."
Winstone began her acting career in 2004 and has since established herself as one of Britain's most recognisable screen talents. Her film credits include Made in Dagenham, Bullet Boy, Tomb Raider, and Wild Bill.
On television, she has built an extensive resume with roles in Dead Set, Torvill & Dean, Poirot, Mad Dogs, Count Abdulla, and the BBC drama Four Lives.
Winstone earned widespread acclaim for playing legendary actress Barbara Windsor in the BBC biopic Babs. Windsor was a beloved icon of British entertainment, famous for starring in the Carry On comedy films and playing pub matriarch Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders.
Following her role in Babs, Winstone played Windsor's famous character Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders flashback specials, most recently during the soap opera's 40th anniversary celebrations last year, which won the British Soap Award for Best Single Episode.
Away from television, Winstone has enjoyed a successful modelling career and starred in the West End production of 2:22 A Ghost Story.
The Strictly 2026 Line-up
Winstone joins a star-studded group of celebrities vying for the glitterball trophy on the dance floor this season.
The 2026 line-up includes EastEnders star Lacey Turner, Australian actress and singer Delta Goodrem, reality TV personalities Dani Dyer and Cach Mercer, and Big Brother host Will Best.
Sports figures entering the competition include decorated Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, former Manchester City and England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Olympian Tabby Stoecker.
The cast is completed by Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, House Of The Dragon actress Bethany Antonia, presenter Graeme 'The Dogfather' Hall, Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, and YouTuber John Nellis.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC iPlayer and BBC One at 7:25pm on Saturday, September 19.
