‘I CAN DANCE NOW, BUT I STILL CAN'T PULL’
EastEnders star Matt Di Angelo, 20, on sexy girls, spandex, and why learning to dance hasn’t helped his love life as much as he’d hoped.
He’s tripping the light fantastic in Strictly Come Dancing at the moment, but EastEnders singleton Matt Di Angelo doesn’t think that learning to dance will do his love life any favours.
‘I look at the professional guy dancers and think, “Wow that’s hot,” and I’m a straight guy,’ he laughs. ‘But I think you have to be as good as them for it to make a difference with women. I don’t think it’ll help my pulling power. I’m not a bad mover, but ballroom is quite hard.’
The 20-year-old actor is currently happily single, but admits he falls down because he’s a bit picky.
‘I am overly fussy,’ he laughs. ‘But I like to think that means I have good taste. I don’t really have a type, but I think you know when you like someone.’
He also says he’s nothing like the lothario he’s been made out to be on occasions.
‘I’m not one of those people who goes home with girls from nightclubs. I read in the papers that I’ve spent the night with some horrible girl or other, and I find it hilarious. I’m like, “Who’s that? Wow, I spent the night with you? Well, I didn’t know I had, but OK!”’
So does he have a crush on his sexy dance partner Flavia Cacace?
‘I honestly don’t. We do get on more than averagely well – we really clicked from the first day – but she’s just a great girl. It’s innocent. And she’s a great teacher, although we have a bit of a love/hate relationship in training.’
And spending time with the lovely Flavia in her skimpy dresses stopped Matt from getting too much flack from his mates about dancing around in spandex.
‘They gave me stick, but I just showed them the publicity shots of who I’m dancing with and they shut up. They were like, “God, they’re all really fit! Can we come and watch you now?!”’
Another positive side effect of being on Strictly… is the celebs never fail to get a better body (and this won’t do Matt’s pulling power any harm).
‘I wasn’t fit at all beforehand,’ Matt confesses. ‘I used to go straight home after work, and on my days off the last thing I wanted to do was run around. So Strictly… has been a bit of a shock to the system. I’m sweating through my tops in rehearsals so much, I have to change them every half an hour. I’m dripping. It’s a bit disgusting!
I haven’t lost weight yet, but everything is a bit more toned. When it’s over, I’m going to keep up the gym. I won’t have a six pack, but I’ll look after myself more.’
Goodbye beer and fags
‘God, Strictly… really takes over your life. I’m up at 6am, rehearsing for 12 hours a day, then doing press – it’s mad. Flavia and I hardly ate for the first few days. 6am is too early for breakfast, we danced through lunch, then I went home. No wonder everyone loses weight. I’ve had to cut back on the social life too. I had to turn down a pint the other night, as I was too shattered. But I don’t mind, it teaches you a bit of discipline. I’m a bit of a smoker too, and it’s quite good because dancing takes my mind off it. I only had three today and normally I’d have around 13 or so if I was at home. Now I ignore the cravings!’
Who to put your money on…
Matt reckons Alesha Dixon or Gethin Jones will waltz off with the title. ‘They’re so good, definitely the dark horses of the show.’
BITCHY IN-FIGHTING?
Apparently not. ‘Everyone wants there to be bitchiness, but there isn’t. We’re all so petrified every week, we just end up being really supportive of one another. To be honest, we’re all having too much fun. I will tell you it’s the most nerve-racking thing I’ve ever done. On the first night, my hands were shaking. That’s why it’s nice to have the family in the audience. My mum, sister, and two brothers have come to watch, and some of the ’Enders lot will when they get a break from filming.’
Mirror
