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Who is Bethany Antonia? Meet Strictly Come Dancing 2026 contestant and actress

The actress has swapped Westeros for the Strictly ballroom.

Two women dancing the American Smooth on the Strictly dance floor.

BBC/Guy Levy

Published: Friday, 30 October 2026 at 12:48 pm

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Strictly Come Dancing is back in full swing and among this year's celebrity contestants is Bethany Antonia, who has swapped the dragon-filled skies of Westeros for the sparkles of the Strictly dancefloor.

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The House of the Dragon star has had a few challenging few weeks alongside pro partner Nancy Xu, having found herself in the dance-off twice, though was saved by the judges both times.

Now, on Halloween week, the pair will be performing a Jive hoping to secure a place in next week's competition.

But what else is there to know about Bethany Antonia? Read on to find out more about the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 contestant.

Who is Bethany Antonia?

Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu holding hands in a dancers hold.

Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu. BBC/Guy Levy

Age: 28

Job: Actress

Instagram: @bethanyantonia

Partner: Nancy Xu

Bethany Antonia is an actress who many will recognise as Lady Baela Targaryen in HBO's House of the Dragon, a role she has portrayed since 2022.

She first began her career in a short film adaptation of The Tempest, before making her television debut in 2016 as a guest star on Doctors.

Her other TV credits include Get Even, Stay Close and Nolly. Her most recent stage work is as Eurydice in Hadestown on the West End.

Bethany Antonia's Strictly journey so far

Scoreboard

Week 1: Quickstep (6 + 7 + 6 + 7 = 26)

Week 2: Paso Doble (7 + 7 + 6 + 7 = 27 = 53)

Week 3: American Smooth (6 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 27)

Week 4: Cha Cha (6 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 27)

Week 5: Argentina Tango (5 + 7 + 6 + 7= 25)

Who is Bethany Antonia's dance partner on Strictly Come Dancing?

Bethany has been paired with Nancy Xu in what is the third all-female same-sex pairing on Strictly.

The first was Nicola Adams and Katya Jones in 2020, with Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer becoming the second in 2022.

What has Bethany Antonia said about Strictly Come Dancing?

Two women dressed as Elphaba and Galinda from Wicked dancing the Paso Doble on the Strictly dance floor.

Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu. BBC/Guy Levy

Bethany Antonia has said she is "so excited" to be part of Strictly, with the show being the one thing she and her family still all watch together.

Of her decision to sign up to the show, Bethany said: "To be completely honest, my Nan passed away at the start of the year, and we loved it so much together. The timing of the offer felt like a gift from her, and so I had no choice, I was like, 'if it's an offer, it's a yes!'. I am doing it for her."

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 31 October at 6:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

Add Strictly Come Dancing to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Katelyn Mensah, smiling against a lime green background.

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.

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