She was sitting pretty on top of the leader board last week, with an impressive score of 26 out of 30 from the judges, but last night Olympia Valance was sent home in a shock elimination on Dancing With The Stars.
The 26-year-old actress and her partner Jarryd Byrne took on a Pulp Fiction-inspired routine for Movie Night, later wowing in the group dance tribute to Bohemian Rhapsody and Queen. But her incredible performances weren’t enough to keep her in the competition, with the star being eliminated in a moment that shocked viewers AND the judges.
“I was surprised,” Olympia tells TV WEEK exclusively. “I was actually, if I’m going to be brutally honest!”
Olympia and her dance partner, Jarryd, were surprised by the elimination.
We caught up with Olympia after her emotional DWTS farwell to find out how she felt about the elimination, her performances, and her plans for the future.
Last night was a bit of a shock! How are you feeling this morning?
I was a little deflated last night, I’m going to be honest, but today I feel good. I feel proud. It’s been an amazing experience and I’m so, so happy I’ve done it. It was unbelievable.
To go from the top of the leaderboard last week, to being sent home last night, were you surprised to be eliminated?
I was actually, if I’m going to be brutally honest! I was surprised, but it is a competition and someone does have to go home every week and I just didn’t get the votes.
As difficult as it must have been, I love that you made a little joke like “I can’t believe I’m going home in this outfit”….
I know! That outfit was ridiculous I had a curly mullet on, it was full on.
But what would have been a GOOD outfit to go home in?
ANY other outfit! (laughs)
Do you have a favourite performance from your time on the show?
Definitely my Argentine Tango, one hundred percent. I loved that dance. I loved learning the dance and I loved the passion and the chemistry that goes into an Argentine Tango, it’s really different from any sort of ballroom and it really resonated with me. I loved it, and I’m going to try and keep it up because I’ve watched a few videos of professionals who just do Argentine Tango and it’s so sexy.
You were one of the strongest dancers – yourself and Courtney Act were right up there at the top of the leader board – are you proud of how well you did?
I am! I actually have never danced before in my life and I didn’t know how I would be, but I do know something about myself is that whenever I set my mind to something, I give it everything that I have.
Olympia wowed judges week after week on DWTS.
One of the exciting things about DWTS is the live audience, because your loved ones can be there watching. Your boyfriend Luke Bracey was there – was it exciting to have him there to support you?
Yeah he was there the first night which was really nice, and my mum flew up from Melbourne every weekend to support me!
Yes! We saw your mum posting a lot on Instagram…
Yeah my mum literally flew up from Melbourne every week, which was so nice, and last night she kind of left her girls’ trip to come to this episode and I don’t know what I would have done if she wasn’t there to watch on.
Along with the support of your loved ones, you also had the support and friendship of all the other contestants. Have you made some close friends?
One hundred percent! We met people we wouldn’t normally run into in our day to day lives, and we all just got along so well and we created this beautiful little family. But the person I’m going to miss the most is Jarryd.
Seems like you’ve become great friends! We love the videos of him pranking you…
How funny where they! But the plan is we’re going to continue to be best friends, and it’ll be nice actually, not having him tell me what to do every 10 seconds.
Jarryd and Olympia are the best of friends.
What’s up next for you, you’ve got Playing For Keeps season two coming up?
Yes! So I’m going back to filming this month, which is super exciting, we’re getting the band back together. I’m excited to see what the scripts are like, I’m excited to see what my story is going to be, whether I get back with my ex. It’s cool, I can’t wait!
And maybe Tahlia can break out in to dance every now and then…
Maybe Tahlia can go on Dancing With The Stars! (laughs). That’d be cool and then I can get Jarryd to come on the show and be my dance partner.
Dancing With The Stars airs Monday, 7:30pm, on Network 10.
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