Kelly Brook goes Dirty Dancing

By Sinead Garvan
Newsbeat entertainment reporter

Kelly Brook is back as a judge in a new reality TV show based on the movie Dirty Dancing. Kelly talks to Newsbeat about shedding tears, Strictly Come Dancing and living it up in LA.

Kelly Brook appeared in the BBC reality show Strictly Come Dancing

Tell us about your new TV show Dirty Dancing: The Time Of Your Life?

It's a reality dance contest which we filmed with 20 dancers in Virginia. They have to do a different dance every week and I'm one of the judges.

What was it like shooting where Dirty Dancing was filmed?

For me it was a dream come true because I have always loved that film and to actually be on the log where Johnny (Patrick Swayze) and Baby (Jennifer Grey) were doing their routines was unbelievable.

I think it just romanticised the whole show for me and it just gave it that little something other reality shows don't have.

How competitive was it?

There were tears, tantrums. It was very gruelling. There was a lot at stake because the winning couple got a year long contract with the BLOC Dance Agency in Los Angeles so the prize is pretty significant and could change their lives.

Did you find yourself getting attached to some of the contestants?

I did have my favourites and obviously the other judges didn't agree with me all of the time. I think for me as a judge I was approaching the show from a very different perspective because of my experience on Strictly Come Dancing. I know what it's like to be under pressure and pre-judged.

Kelly sports a plunging backless dress on the red carpet

I can safely say I did have my favourites and I would really stand by them and root for them and fight for them as much as I could.

But sometimes you have to let people go that maybe you wanted to see go all the way. That's the nature of it. The judges didn't agree all the time so that was tough.

Did you cry?

A couple of times yes but I didn't cry as much as Cheryl (Cole) on the X Factor.

I think when you see someone that's so passionate about something and obviously being an actress and dancing myself, I understand how it feels to maybe have something taken away from you that you're really enjoying.

There were a few moments where the dancers really poured their hearts out and it was quite heart wrenching.

Were you always a fan of Dirty Dancing as a kid?

Dirty Dancing is the most iconic dance movie ever. My favourite line is, 'No-one puts Baby in the corner'. I love that line. So to actually go to the place and set up a dance competition there was great.

I believe you're going back for a Christmas special of Strictly Come Dancing too?

I'm so lucky. If Brendan (Cole, her former dancing partner) is with Lisa (Snowdon) then I'll be dancing with someone else.

So it may mean that I dance against Brendan which would be hilarious but I would love to dance with him obviously.

What else are you up to?

I'm about to start a play in the West End called Fat Pig which is on at the Comedy Theatre which opens on 13 October which is quite daunting because it's so close. I'm taking over from (Gavin and Stacey star) Joanna Page.

Your character Jeannie is quite insecure and she says some nasty things in the play. Did you draw any inspiration from some of the people you met in LA?

No. The thing with my character Jeannie is that she's in love with someone who is in love with somebody else and I think what people need to remember is she's only poking fun at this girl because she's frustrated.

The Strictly star was always a fan of Dirty Dancing

It's not because she's overweight but because she's frustrated that her boyfriend doesn't love her anymore.

I think Jeannie is a little bit misunderstood so I don't want to make her mean.

I want her to be likeable but I want women to sympathise with her as well because it's frustrating if you're in love with someone and they don't love you anymore.

When you went over to LA as an unknown how difficult was it to make a break?

There's no shortcuts really. I just went over there at the age of 20 and just went on a few auditions and tried to land some roles in TV shows.

There was no big introductions, no foot in the door. I did it the hard way. It is a luck of the draw if you make it.

I was lucky there was a TV show and they were looking for an English girl and I auditioned and got the role. You just have to work and be as good as you can possibly be.

What are the audition processes like?

Over there if there is a role on the show you'd meet the casting director and they'd call you back to meet the director and then you'd meet the producers, then you'd meet the studio. It is like this whole process you go through.

You'd be on six to seven meetings before you get a role in something and even then it is only a pilot. It's a really tough grind. I think George Clooney made about five pilots before he got on ER so it's not easy.