MARIE’S HIGHS & LOWS ON ROAD
I waited all my life for someone to come along then thunder came crashing down... Lord Of The Dance gave me a purpose Choreographer so grateful for Flatley support
She added: “Walking in on the red carpet, the life-size Oscars everywhere and bumping into Tom Cruise and Ralph Fiennes was thrilling.”
And when Michael was asked to perform at a summit meeting in St Petersburgh, Marie found herself on board Vladimir Putin’s jet.
She added: “Pavarotti was performing too so we all took the jet together, he was very polite and gave all the dancers an autograph. We had done a lot of performances for Prince Charles as Michael always supported the Prince’s Trust.
“It was such an honour to perform at Buckingham Palace.
“Prince Charles always came backstage after every performance to meet all of the dancers.”
Marie married her neighbour Mike Pask in 2004 – they had been living next door to each other for four years before they even spoke.
But another blow hit her world when she contracted breast cancer.
She said: “I was diagnosed six years ago – it was quite advanced at the time. That was a low period and I think I was at a show in Dubai when I called Michael and told him I’d be taking some time off. I had a mastectomy, radiation, chemotherapy and nine months of treatment.”
But Marie would not let the illness beat her and a week after the operation she auditioned for Lord Of The Dance. She explained: “The show was going on around Europe so Mike would drive around and we’d take boats and he’d drive me back every three weeks for chemo. “I wanted to live my life as normal and keep normality in it. We have a fantastic relationship – the proof is we have lasted so long together. “Sometimes I’m like his big sister or sometimes I’m like his mom. He’s like the son I never had.” Lady Of The Dance by Marie Duffy and journalist Eddie Rowley is available at Eason priced €19.99.
We have a wonderful relationship.. the proof is we have lasted so long together
MARIE DUFFY ON FRIENDSHIP WITH MICHAEL FLATLEY, RIGHT