Former professional football player Karen Carney described her true motivation for joining BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and how she feels “humbled and privileged to be on the show.”
During her career as a footballer, Karen Carney was regularly considered — and celebrated — as the most cool, calm and collected player on the pitch. But as she steps into her Strictly Come Dancing glamorous gown and heels, she admits in an exclusive chat with OK! that it’s pushing her further out of her comfort zone than she’s ever been.
“The challenge for me will be trying to show the real version of me, and not getting shy or awkward, or insular,” she reveales when we sit down with her a few days before the latest series kicks off. “A lot of people will have seen me in the football environment, and it’s quite intense. My feeling is that people perceive me in a certain way — that I’m very… serious. But that’s not really accurate!”
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“I want people to notice how warm I am,” I said. a compassionate, kind worker. I’m actually quite nervous and awkward. However, I’m also really funny and daft, and I probably only want to see Karen in a different way, not a footballer.
Everyone I know who has used Strictly has cautioned me against being too hard on myself. I would be absolutely critical of myself if it were football, but this isn’t my thing; it’s the pros’ thing, and I’m honored and privileged to be on the show.
The fiercely proud Brummie, 38, is one of the most recognisable faces in football punditry, with regular appearances on ITV, Sky Sports and TNT Sports.
Her professional career — which began at her home club of Birmingham City in the early noughties — includes appearances for England, lifting the FA Women’s Premier League and FA Women’s Cup trophies, a stint in the US, and a place on the 2012 Olympic Great Britain team.
She has a long history of Strictly fans, and she can proudly claim to have seen almost every episode of the 22 series so far. She admitted that she has never anticipated entering the fabled dance floor herself, and that she also “begged, stole, and borrowed” to get a seat in the live studio audience last year.
She shares, “You watch it every week, fall in love with the stories, and you witness people’s journeys and personalities.” I was just mesmerized by it when I went there last year. Never, ever did I even consider that I would participate in it one day. Sincerely, I never imagined that I would step onto the Strictly dance floor in my wildest dreams. It was just an incredible moment when I received the email stating that I would participate this year.
Although her list of standout moments is lengthy, Chris McCausland, who won the title last year with Dianne Buswell, occupies a few of the spots. In addition to Karen, the 2022 Glitterball winners Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przysta are both present, and despite her nervousness, Karen is absolutely hushed to create her own memorable “moments.”
“Chris and Dianne were my absolute favorites.” I shared a few years ago the same block with Chris, who obviously enjoys football. I wanted to see Dianne’s parents watching them both in live theater because I was so invested in both of them.
She refers to the couple’s legendary lift during their salsa, which included Sasha and Jowita, and that was “that iconic salsa that was just absolutely epic.” ).
That cool exterior begins to fade as Karen discusses moving her to one of the show’s most eclectic lineups. She says they have developed a “brilliant rapport” and are thrilled to be spending time with reality TV star and podcaster Vicky Pattison.
One other famous person has unavoidably assigned Karen to bring in a football for some breaktime kickabouts, and Karen is more than happy to do so. It’s just a lovely group this year, they say. She grins and says that Vicky is very grounded and energetic. She always asks, “Are you okay?,” and she always answers. and I’m like, “Yes, but are you okay?”
Ross King also makes me laugh. We’ll be playing football whenever we can, so I said I’d bring in a mini ball because it’ll keep me calm.
Karen has also been backed up a lot by well-known people, including a few ex-Strictly contestants. There is even an unofficial “supporters’ group” for her that includes Sara Davies, Ellie Simmonds, Anneka Rice, and Clare Balding.
She laughs and says, “They were all at a cricketing event that Clare recently invited me to, and I just had to get a photo with them.” They all expressed such admiration for it. In fact, Sara actually said, “Here’s my number in case you ever need anything.” She promised to do the same for someone else in the future, so I would forward it. It was a really kind act.
Karen made her FA Women’s Premier League National Division debut at age 14 at Birmingham City before beginning her professional senior career there in 2001 (she joined them as a youth player at the age of 11). She then spent time with Chelsea before beginning her professional career at Arsenal and the Chicago Red Stars in the US.
Does Karen believe that her fancy footwork will help her in the Strictly ballroom, given that she is undoubtedly a whizz with a football? She laughs, “I definitely don’t have the grace, that’s something I’m going to have to learn,” she says. the endurance? I’m not sure. It combines exercise and training in a completely new way. That will be a challenge because I don’t exercise in heels!
“I’ve been retired for six years, and I probably spent the last few hours relaxing.” Never did I anticipate participating in Strictly, and I’m probably going to have gained more muscle if I had known. I just want to enjoy the experience, not put any pressure on myself.
For Karen, the journey is just as important to her as the destination, and possibly a Glitterball victory. She acknowledges that some unanticipated emotions have already caught her off guard. And while embracing every emotion, good or bad, she is determined to keep her guard down and show her side when it comes to herself.
“I’ve always said that my football career went so quickly,” I’ve always said. I’m angry at myself because there are times when I’m not happy enough and because I’m so focused on succeeding and striving to be best and constantly thinking about the upcoming game that I don’t always live in the moment and really enjoy it all.
So I’ve made the promise to myself that every moment will have its advantages, with all kinds of difficulties and ups and downs.
