Former Strictly Come Dancing winner looks unrecognisable years after winning the BBC One show as she appears in promo shots for her new TV show… can YOU guess who it is?

Former Strictly Come Dancing winner looks unrecognisable years after winning the BBC One show as she appears in promo shots for her new TV show... can YOU guess who it is?

As I delve into the captivating lives of these accomplished individuals, I can’t help but marvel at the serendipitous twists and turns their paths have taken. Kara Tointon, once a shining star on the British stage, found her life forever altered by the rhythmic allure of Strictly Come Dancing. Her journey led her to Norway, where she now resides with her family, far from the bustling city lights that once illuminated her path.


Previously crowned champion on Strictly Come Dancing appeared significantly different while immersing herself in her role for an upcoming series airing on Channel 5.

In 2010, the 41-year-old actress emerged victorious in the BBC contest and was presented with the Glitterball trophy by her partner, skilled dancer Artem Chigvintsev.

Currently, she seems far removed from the flashiness and opulence of the stage, instead adopting a grave demeanor in a recent promotional photoshoot for The Teacher, which was broadcast this week.

She stars in the show alongside Irish actor Emmett J Scanlan, Will Mellor, and Sheridan Smith.

This actress isn’t new to daytime dramas, particularly as she famously played Dawn Swann on BBC’s EastEnders. Do you recognize her from that role?

Former Strictly Come Dancing winner looks unrecognisable years after winning the BBC One show as she appears in promo shots for her new TV show... can YOU guess who it is?

Former Strictly Come Dancing winner looks unrecognisable years after winning the BBC One show as she appears in promo shots for her new TV show... can YOU guess who it is?

That’s right, it’s… Kara Tointon!

In Channel 5’s intense new series titled “The Teacher,” she portrays the character Dani Oxley during its premiere on September 9.

Danielle, who serves as an art instructor, finds herself grappling with marital issues and experiencing fatigue following the milestone of turning forty. However, she unfortunately commits a significant error.

During a school excursion, she clandestinely meets another teacher while supervising a group of high school students. However, upon her return, she finds out that one of the students is absent.

Over time, it becomes apparent that the child retrieved a kayak and tragically drowned. However, numerous questions remain unanswered, leading the police to launch a murder investigation. This investigation implicates Dani, her lover Jimmy (Will Mellor), her husband Tim (Emmett J. Scanlan) who is also a teacher at the school.

In the initial season of the Channel 5 program, featuring Sheridan Smith, proved to be an enormous success, captivating viewers from the get-go with its intriguing mysteries unfolding across a gripping four-episode saga.

In the play, Kara appears a world apart from the glitz and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing, having triumphed in the competition over a decade and a half earlier.

After the program became well-known, she experienced significant success as a result. Winning the competition is one of her most recognized accomplishments.

Former Strictly Come Dancing winner looks unrecognisable years after winning the BBC One show as she appears in promo shots for her new TV show... can YOU guess who it is?
Former Strictly Come Dancing winner looks unrecognisable years after winning the BBC One show as she appears in promo shots for her new TV show... can YOU guess who it is?
Former Strictly Come Dancing winner looks unrecognisable years after winning the BBC One show as she appears in promo shots for her new TV show... can YOU guess who it is?

She earned significant recognition by performing in plays such as Absent Friends and Relatively Speaking, and she starred in the popular ITV series Mr Selfridge, portraying Rosalie, the daughter of Harry Selfridge, the store’s founder.

In a remarkable turn of events, I found myself garnering accolades for my vocal and dance skills while portraying the character Maria in ITV’s live adaptation of “The Sound of Music.” It was an unforgettable experience that I am truly grateful for.

Through Strictly Come Dancing, Kara experienced a significant career advancement. She expressed to You Magazine that participating in the program transformed her life.

Additionally, this development resulted in a three-year partnership with her dancing companion, Artem, but they parted ways in a friendly manner in 2015 because their busy work commitments kept them apart.

Currently, she resides in Norway together with her fiancé, Marius Jensen, along with their sons, Frey who is five years old and Helly who turns three this year.

Last month, Artem, a previous professional dancer from Strictly Come Dancing, was taken into custody in California under suspicion of domestic violence.

The dancer was booked into Napa County Jail at the end of August, according to online jail records.

Chigvintsev was arrested a few days following the celebration of his two-year wedding anniversary with his wife, who is a WWE star named Nikki Bella.

Former Strictly Come Dancing winner looks unrecognisable years after winning the BBC One show as she appears in promo shots for her new TV show... can YOU guess who it is?
Former Strictly Come Dancing winner looks unrecognisable years after winning the BBC One show as she appears in promo shots for her new TV show... can YOU guess who it is?

On Instagram, he shared: ‘Celebrating our anniversary, my dear! I can’t imagine my life without you. To me, you are everything.’

The Russian dancer joined Strictly during series eight in 2010, the year he was paired with Kara.

In the year 2011, this 42-year-old contestant advanced to the semifinals on the show alongside actress Holly Valance. The following year, in the 2012 series, he was paired with TV icon Fern Britton.

In 2013, he was paired with the actress Natalie Gumede from Coronation Street. They finished as the first runners-up in that particular event.

Later on, Chigvintsev shifted to the American adaptation of Strictly Come Dancing, known as Dancing With The Stars. In 2017, he was paired with Nikki Bella, who eventually became his spouse on this show.

In 2020, their son made his entrance into the world mere hours after Brie Bella, Nikki’s twin sister, welcomed her second child.

The siblings starred in the E! reality show Total Bellas for five years.

Nikki Bella and Chigvintsev revealed that they discovered their pregnancy only two-and-a-half weeks following their engagement in Paris, and they tied the knot in the year 2022.

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2024-09-14 14:19

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