Actress Bethany Antonia has been announced as the ninth celebrity contestant to join the upcoming season of "Strictly Come Dancing." The 28-year-old is recognized for her portrayal of Lady Baela Targaryen in HBO's "House of the Dragon," a role she has held since 2022.
The announcement was made Tuesday through the official social media channels of BBC Strictly. Antonia's acting career began at age 14 with a role in a short film adaptation of "The Tempest," followed by a guest spot on the BBC series "Doctors." Her breakthrough television role came in 2020 as Margot Rivers in the BBC/Netflix thriller "Get Even." She has since appeared in "Nolly," "Stay Close," "Stath Lets Flats," and "Doctor Who."
Antonia is currently performing as Eurydice in the Tony Award-winning musical "Hadestown" in London's West End. She expressed her excitement about joining "Strictly Come Dancing," stating, "I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill."
Antonia joins a previously announced lineup that includes Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey, and Jaime Winstone. Further cast announcements are expected throughout the summer, with the new season scheduled to begin on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in September.
Lacey Turner, known for her role in "EastEnders," was the first contestant revealed. She noted her excitement and nerves about participating, aiming to learn a new skill. Dani Dyer, who previously withdrew from the 2025 series due to an ankle fracture, will also return to the competition.
In related news, the professional dancers for the 2026 season have begun rehearsals. Among those returning are Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, and Jowita Przystal. Carlos Gu, who won the previous season with footballer Karen Carney, is also returning, along with pros such as Katya Jones, Kai Widdrington, Aljaž Škorjanec, Lauren Oakley, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Alexis Warr, Julian Caillon, and Vito Coppola.
This season will also feature five new professional dancers: Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Mark Karmalita, and Maddie Ingoldsby. This follows a reshuffling of the professional lineup that saw several dancers depart the show.