Amber Davies has danced her way into the nation's hearts to reach the grand final of Strictly Come Dancing 2025, but her reality television journey began long before she took to the famous BBC ballroom.
From Drama School to Reality TV Stardom
The 29-year-old star first captured public attention as the winner of Love Island's third series in 2017 alongside Kem Cetinay. However, her screen career started even earlier. At just 16, Amber won a scholarship to the prestigious Urdang Academy to study musical theatre. In 2015, two years before her Love Island fame, she worked on ITV's The X Factor as a backing singer for Ben Haenow and Leona Lewis.
Her entry into this year's Strictly competition was itself a dramatic turn of events. She joined the cast as a last-minute replacement for fellow former Love Island contestant Dani Dyer, who was forced to withdraw after breaking her ankle.
A Flourishing Stage Career Post-Love Island
Since leaving the Love Island villa, Amber has successfully transitioned from reality star to acclaimed stage performer. She returned to her theatrical roots in 2019, landing the lead role of Judy Bernly in the West End production of 9 to 5: The Musical at the Savoy Theatre.
Her stage credits have grown impressively since. She toured the UK as Campbell in Bring It On: The Musical in 2021 and 2022, before playing Lorraine Baines McFly in Back To The Future: The Musical at London's Adelphi Theatre. This year, she appeared as Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby at the London Coliseum. Looking ahead, she is set to take the lead role of Elle Woods in the UK tour of Legally Blonde next year.
Life Beyond the Stage and Screen
Amber's television work extended beyond Love Island. She has appeared on shows including Celebrity Ghost Hunt, Pointless Celebrities, and All Together Now. In 2021, she had a recurring role as Jess in the CBBC series Almost Never. Last year, she was a contestant on ITV's Dancing On Ice, narrowly missing a place in the final.
In her personal life, Amber is in a relationship with fellow stage star Ben Joyce. The pair met in 2022 while working on Back To The Future: The Musical, where Ben played the lead role of Marty McFly. They moved in together last year, and Amber has described the Welsh actor as her "rock" during her whirlwind Strictly experience.
The Strictly Come Dancing 2025 finale airs on BBC One at 7pm on Saturday, December 20th, where Amber and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin will compete for the coveted Glitterball Trophy.
