Earlier than Kelly Monaco was topped the first-ever Dancing With the Stars winner, she was warned that becoming a member of the hit actuality competitors collection may injury her profession.
“I had a letter in my mailbox in my dressing room at Normal Hospital. We have now these little mailboxes outdoors of our dressing rooms, and there was a letter in there, and it was a request to do Dancing with the Stars,” Monaco, 49, recalled to Entertainment Weekly in a profile revealed on Saturday, July 5. “I bear in mind bringing it house and getting suggestions from household, associates, and so forth, they usually had been like, ‘You’ll be able to’t do a actuality present. Actors don’t do a actuality present.’”
She added, “I had by no means heard of ballroom dancing earlier than. I had no concept what I used to be getting myself into. However I used to be similar to, ‘F*** it. I’ll attempt something as soon as.’ That’s how I’ve at all times rolled in life. If a chance comes, I’ll attempt it.”
DWTS, based mostly on England’s well-liked Strictly Come Dancing actuality TV competitors, premiered in 2005. Monaco, who was paired with professional dancer Alec Mazo, competed in opposition to John O’Hurley, Joey McIntyre, Rachel Hunter, Evander Holyfield and Trista Sutter.
Kelly Monaco is reflecting on her exit from Normal Hospital after information broke that she was leaving the collection. “Final scene with the Davis women. 😘🥲🙏🏻,” Monaco, 48, wrote through Instagram on Sunday, October 6. “Nonetheless doesn’t make any sense to me.” Alongside the message, Monaco shared a snap posing on a sofa with costars […]
“The primary season was solely six episodes. It was a take a look at run, and I used to be like, ‘I’m not going to inform anybody I’m doing it and hopefully I get voted off first and nobody will ever see it,’” the cleaning soap opera star recalled to EW. “After the primary episode, I used to be horrified by the feedback from the judges, and I received the bottom rating, I feel, ever within the historical past of Dancing With the Stars. So, I used to be like, ‘OK, it’s on. We’re stepping into and we’re doing this.’ Then I took it severely, and I used to be all in at that time.”
In line with Monaco, she thought she could be eradicated every week.
Kelly Monaco dances throughout ‘DWTS: All-Stars’ in 2012. Adam Taylor / ABC / Everett Assortment
“I didn’t suppose I used to be a superb dancer in any respect. I improved weekly. I feel individuals associated to me in that I went from duck toes to with the ability to spin,” she stated. “I’ve ruptured eardrums, equilibrium issues, and for me to even be capable to do this with out falling flat on my face was a journey in itself. I used to be so proud each week that I made it every week additional.”
Monaco’s ballroom journey additionally included a now-infamous wardrobe malfunction, the place her gown broke throughout her and Mazo’s samba in week 4.
“Alec was very strict, and he ready me for each impediment. He would have whoever was round throw obstacles at us,” Monaco added. “So, he ready me for that, however oh my God, it was so scary. I felt like somebody had a laser beam from 5 miles away and shot my costume. It was a countdown to going reside, ‘5, 4, three, pop!’ I used to be like, ‘What am I alleged to do?’”
She continued, “I do know I get not less than 5 counts of a stroll over to Alec, strolling towards him for our dance. However I bear in mind trying on the judges, taking a look at whoever like, ‘Is there a cease button? Okay, there’s nothing. I simply need to undergo it.’ So, I’m like, ‘OK, effectively, I’ll simply maintain my gown up whereas I dance.’ Alec supported me each step of the best way. I don’t suppose I felt extra assured in any dance.”
In line with Monaco, the wardrobe mishap was “the turnaround of [her] expertise with dance and the present.”
“After that, the viewers associated to me as a result of I used to be on cleaning soap operas for thus lengthy, I had solely been often known as this villain and was solely known as by my cleaning soap identify in public,” she stated. “This gave the viewers an opportunity to see the true me in a circumstance the place you possibly can both fall flat or rise above.”
Monaco’s efficiency — she later returned to the primary and solely All-Stars season in 2012, ending in third place with companion Val Chermovskiy — has set the usual for the competitors. A thirty fourth season has been greenlit this fall, starring Alix Earle, Robert Irwin, Jen Affleck, Whitney Leavitt and extra.
Dancing With the Stars returns to ABC Mondays within the fall.