Just give it a lash!
Brave DWTS star Clelia, 43, urges people to face fears & take risks
DANCING With The Stars contestant Clelia Murphy has four words of advice for anyone struggling with anxiety – “Give it a lash”.
The former Fair City star – famous for playing Niamh Brennan for 22 years – says the competition has helped her face her fears and gain confidence.
The 43-year-old mum recently opened up about her teenage battle with anorexia and is encouraging everyone to try something new, even if they’re afraid of failure.
Dubliner Clelia admitted she’s delighted she said yes when asked to take part in the popular dance competition, currently airing every Sunday evening on RTE One.
She told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I’m so glad I didn’t stop myself experiencing this just because I thought I couldn’t do it.
“Life can be scary enough, and making it scarier for yourself by listening to negative thoughts in your head just makes it harder.
“So if there’s something out there you want to try, and you think, ‘Oh I can’t’, don’t say that until you try it first. And if it’s not for you, then you can give it up – but at least you can say, ‘I gave it a lash and it wasn’t for me’.”
And Clelia, who has been partnered with professional dancer Vitali Kozmin. insisted the popular dance show has an important social role.
She added: “With Dancing With The Stars we’re not saving lives, but we’re informing our own lives, and we’re entertaining other people for a couple of hours, and people are getting joy from it. It’s not lofty, but it’s entertainment, and I think there’s a space for that – a very necessary space for that – in the world.” Tonight Clelia will perform a waltz, which she has been working “really hard” on six hours a day all week – while battling with a dose of the flu. She said: “I’m battling the sweats and I’m doing as many twirls as you can think of, so I’m a bit extra nervous.” The former Fair City star told how her battles with anorexia – and her experience on DWTS – has taught her the importance of developing yourself as a person and not comparing yourself to others. Clelia added: “Comparing yourself to others or trying to be like somebody else is a recipe for failure. “It’s about accepting who you are and learning who you are. Your outside, your physical form, will always change, that’s the one constant. So you owe it to yourself to look after your inside, so it’s reflected on your outside.” Meanwhile, for the first time in the show’s history, DWTS fans have had the opportunity to decide which celebrity is matched with which pro-dancer for Switch-up Week. Voting will close tonight during the show after which couples will be told who is switched with who and they can begin training with their new partners. Viewers will be able to see the newlymatched pairs dance next week. DWTS is on RTE One tonight at 6.30pm.
Life is scary enough, don’t make it even scarier with the negative thoughts CLELIA MURPHY DUBLIN YESTERDAY