From scumbag to rumba
Johnny will dance off tv gangster image
LOVE/HATE star Johnny Ward has said he’s hoping to swap his bad boy image to become the “gentleman of the dance floor” after signing up for Dancing With The Stars.
The 31-year-old, who played gangster Pauley in the RTE series and crazy kidnapper Ciaran in Fair City, admitted he wants to show viewers he’s different to the “scumbag” characters he portrays.
Johnny told the Irish Mirror: “You get known for playing a part and the majority of auditions I’m seen for, it’s for bad boys, scumbags, gangsters or coke addicts, something like that.
“Just to have the opportunity to be the gentleman of the dance floor, it kind of excited me in a weird way.”
The third series of DWTS is set to kick off on Sunday, with Dubliner Johnny competing against 10 other famous faces – including rugby legend Peter Stringer, model Holly Carpenter and actress Eilish O’carroll – in a bid to win the Glitterball Trophy.
Johnny revealed he had previously been approached to take part but couldn’t sign up because the series clashed with his kidnapping storyline in Fair City. He said: “As soon as they asked would I be interested [this year], I said yes and I have no idea why. It’s just a challenge.
“I’m used to the audience but it’s brand new – it’s like going into the Octagon and learning a brand new martial arts that you’ve never done before.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and if I had have said no, I would have regretted it.”