Bethany Antonia admits Strictly was harder to keep secret than House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon star Bethany Antonia has opened up about her struggles to keep her Strictly Come Dancing role under wraps.
Bethany Antonia found it harder keeping Strictly Come Dancing a secret than House of the Dragon.
The 28-year-old actress, who plays Lady Baela Targaryen in the Game of Thrones prequel series, has admitted she actually struggled to keep her upcoming appearance on the BBC's Latin and ballroom show under wraps.
She told the Metro newspaper's 60 Seconds column: "Crazily, it was Strictly. My mum was the only person I told and I made her swear on everything she wouldn't tell anyone.
"People would try to make plans and I was like, 'I'm not free'. They'd say, 'What, not between now and Christmas?'
"'I might go away'. I famously don't take holidays so my friends knew something weird was up."
When the star told her mother, she "burst into tears" and immediately started watching an episode from the 2025 series.
Bethany added: "She was like, 'What if you're with that person or that person?' It was lovely."
She is openly gay, and will be paired with a yet-to-be revealed female pro dancer on the upcoming series.
Bethany revealed: "When Nicola Adams and Katya Jones did the show in 2020, that was life-changing for me - to see my family so supportive of an all-female couple and what that meant.
"It suddenly felt like an open space."
The former Doctor Who star is "such a big fan" of Strictly, and she has fond memories of having a "picky bits" tea at her Nan's every weekend to watch the show.
She added: "Nan and I would be dancing around the kitchen and the living room. It felt like such an honour to be asked to do it."
Strictly returns on Saturday (19.09.26) as the 2026 contestants are introduced to their professional partners.
Taking part alongside Bethany are EastEnders icon Lacey Turner, Neighbours alum Delta Goodrem, former Love Island stars Cach Mercer and Dani Dyer - who withdrew last year due to an ankle injury - and celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton.
Big Brother host Will Best, Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, Babs actress Jaime Winstone, football player-turned-pundit Shaun Wright-Phillips and dog trainer Graeme Hall are also taking to the dance floor.
Completing the line-up are Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, Olympic skeleton gold medallist Tabby Stoecker, YouTube star John Nellis and Gavin and Stacey fan favourite Melanie Walters.
The live competition format kicks off the following week, Saturday, September 26.
