Amber Davies recently revealed the emotional toll that participating in Strictly Come Dancing last year had on her, describing the experience as ‘devastating.’ This candid admission comes as she discusses her current absence from Legally Blonde: The Musical due to health issues.

At 29, Amber was compelled to step away from her role in the musical indefinitely after succumbing to illness.

In her podcast, Call To Stage With Amber Davies, she shared a heartfelt update on her health, exposing the intense demands of her schedule and its severe impact on her well-being.

During the podcast episode, Amber confessed that she ignored warning signs from her body, which became apparent after she fell seriously ill following the press night.

She detailed how the taxing weeks of rehearsals and the effort of launching the production weakened her immune system. Consequently, when she contracted the flu, it rapidly spread among her fellow cast members.

Despite her condition, Amber was determined to push through, anxious not to disappoint her colleagues.

Amber Davies become emotional as she admitted that starring on Strictly Come Dancing last year ‘annihilated’ her, as she opened up about why she has been off sick from Legally Blonde: The Musical 

The actress, 29, was previously forced to pull out of the show for the foreseeable after falling ill, and her role as leading lady Elle Woods was taken over by understudy Hannah

However, she revealed her illness then developed into a chest and sinus infection, for which she was prescribed antibiotics. 

Although she initially began to feel better, she returned to work too soon, a decision she called her ‘first error’,  as the infection had not fully cleared. 

Driven by a ‘show must go on’ mentality and the pressure of leading the production, she admitted she put others before her own health. 

Things then took a dramatic turn when her condition suddenly worsened. She recalled struggling to even get to the theatre before her energy and voice began failing.

Realising something was seriously wrong, she was forced to step back, later discovering her infection levels were ‘through the roof’ after medical tests. 

She recalled: ‘I remember sitting at the back, I was meant to drive to the show that day, and I just didn’t have the energy to drive. 

‘So I got in the back of an Uber, and I remember just sitting there thinking, “oh my god, there’s something seriously wrong with me”.

‘But again, I didn’t want to call in. I didn’t, and because I’d just previously been ill like three weeks before, I was like, I can’t call in again, like what is going on? 

Now, Amber has addressed the situation on her podcast, Call To Stage With Amber Davies, sharing a candid health update and revealing how her gruelling schedule took a serious toll

Elsewhere in the podcast, Amber revealed that she was offered Strictly Come Dancing just before starting rehearsals for Legally Blonde, and, despite wanting time to rest, felt unable to turn it down (pictured on Strictly last year)

‘And I started the show, and I’d got under the lights in my Elle costume, in my wig, and I just wasn’t there. Like my voice was shutting down on me. Simultaneously, my energy was dropping – I was like oh god, get me off this stage.’ 

She continued: ‘So after Sirius, I made the call, and everybody knew that I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent and the whole company gave me so much grace and space.’ 

Now recovering, Amber revealed she has undergone an extended course of antibiotics alongside steroids to tackle the severe infection.

Reflecting on the ordeal, she admitted feeling guilty for pushing herself so far, but said it had been a wake-up call, vowing she will never ignore her body’s warning signs again. 

Elsewhere in the podcast, Amber revealed that she was offered Strictly Come Dancing just before starting rehearsals for Legally Blonde, and, despite wanting time to rest, felt unable to turn it down. 

She said: ‘How on earth was I supposed to know that Strictly were going to call? Obviously, that isn’t an opportunity I can turn down.

‘I think I underestimated how much Strictly was going to annihilate me and chew me up. 

‘Like yes, it was the best thing I’ve ever done. I would do it a million times again. I loved it with all my heart, even all the sh***y trolls. 

‘But I flatlined after Strictly. Some clips come up on my social sometimes of like the semi-finals and the final, and I can see it in my eyes, like, I’m not there, you know?’ 

‘It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And like, physically, emotionally, I couldn’t have given anymore. By the end, I wasn’t me.’