Strictly Shirley’s waltz and all film biopic
SHIRLEY Ballas is in talks to make a film about the dazzling highs and hellish lows of her life as an international star.
Strictly Come Dancing’s head judge, 60, has packed in a celebrated career as a ballroom champion and two marriages...so far.
She has revealed much of it in her new autobiography Behind The Sequins but said there’s too much for a single book – so she needs to make the film.
The Merseyside-born dancer teased: “There are a couple of inquiries out there. I’m not really sure how that’s going but there’s a couple of inquiries. Once I have the book and then I add to it other stories – because I had to choose what I wrote – and it just keeps going on now, the drama.There’s still drama.”
Casting directors might look to Dirty Dancing’s Jennifer Grey, 61, who appeared on the US version of Strictly, Dancing With The Stars.
Or Dame Julie Walters, 71, who pulled off a Liverpudlian accent in Educating Rita.
There is plenty of juicy material for them to work with – Shirley has been married twice, the second time to Corky Ballas.They conquered the world as dance partners, earning her the nickname the Queen of Latin.
But in her book she claims the relationship was volatile, including him fat-shaming her.
Shirley and Corky have also accused each other of cheating during their marriage, which bumped along from 1985 until 2007.
In December she admitted she hopes theatre producer boyfriend Daniel Taylor, 47, will become her third husband.They kept fans entertained with Instagram updates during the first lockdown. But Shirley has now revealed she struggled with anxiety during that time and has since had professional help.
The Strictly star, whose brother David killed himself, has long supported mental health charities, particularly those helping men.
And she told Nicki Chapman’s Talking Success podcast: “We’ve got more educated on mental health. That’s why I understand the trolling and try to be a little bit of a sympathetic ear...if I can save or help one person...”