Australian comedienne Felicity Ward is no stranger to a theatrical challenge, and Dancing With The Stars Australia presented her with a dazzling one that changed how she thought about herself forever.
Hailing from the Central Coast, but now living between London and Australia, Felicity had only one hangup over joining the show. And it wasn’t the costumes.
“The only reason I considered not doing it was because I’d be away from my son. Every single other reason screamed yes in a very aggressive way to me. Sequins? Dancing? Probably glitter? Meet incredible people? NO. BRAINER,” she told Chattr in an exclusive interview.
Felicity is a stand-up with a ton of variety show experience thanks to her time on variety shows like House of Games and Thank God You’re Here. These experiences, she says, gave her a perfect edge to enter the ballroom.
“I’m a natural show pony, so although I was nervous and felt hugely vulnerable trying to do something so difficult, I have nearly 20 years of doing stupid things in front of cameras and under lights. While it guaranteed nothing (I still got wildly nervous and excited before dancing), I think it helped a weeny bit.”
Despite her silly, confident stage presence, Felicity has always been open about her struggles with anxiety. But you might be asking how Felicity Ward, a person with anxiety, who isn’t a professional dancer, pushes past the nerves?
“I felt nervous, but Aric is so pumped before he goes on stage, it’s hard not to get excited too. It’s contagious. He’s so ready. So we’d run a part of the dance, I felt like I needed to go over again before we got called. But he always had this “let’s DO THIS” look in his eye, which would get me hyped out of my mind. More nervous to hear what the judges have to say after!” she confesses.
Competition can play havoc on people’s anxiety, let alone nationally broadcast dance competitions. But once she was under those lights and in front of the camera, training for days and weeks at a time, Felicity says her competition quickly became her comrades.
“It’s so funny, even now I forget that we were contestants. I love every single person on that show after working with them. I know that’s probably a boring thing to say, but I didn’t think of it as “going up against” them, I thought of them as “fellow non-dancers trying the scariest thing we’ve probably every done in public and how are we going to get through this together”. We had a Whatsapp group with the girls and we were and are still so supportive of each other.”
How Dancing With The Stars changed her brain chemistry
Post-DWTS, Felicity Ward explains to Chattr how her expectations before, versus after, are night and day. But it’s clear being in the competition, shaking and shimmying her butt off every week had a profound effect on more than just her body.
“I just had some humble dreams of having the single greatest time of my life and curing my mental illness. No pressure. And then the show began. And it became about proving to myself that I could even do it, because initially I found it so hard. And so much harder than I could ever imagine.” Ward tells Chattr, “But that made it so much sweeter when it came time to perform the dance. Because it really took blood, sweat and tears. Well, no blood. Just a couple of bruised ribs and a twisted neck. And athlete’s foot.”
But being no stranger to the epic highs and lows of being on stage, Felicity was all in for Dancing With The Stars. Aside from picking the music, the star of The Office could not get enough of her and her fellow contestants’ glamorous get-ups.
“I had input with the music, which is the only thing I cared about really. Working with Tim Chappell in costume (WHO WAS THE COSTUME DESIGNER ON PRISCILLA, NO LESS!!!) I just wanted to wear his art. The only time I gave feedback was if it wasn’t comfortable or I couldn’t move my body the way it needed to go or if one of my boobs was about to fall out. Which was a very hot topic. And Aric is an INCREDIBLE choreographer. So I just trusted and did everything he told me to. Well, everything I was capable of. And things I didn’t think I was.”
As competitive as she is, Felicity reveals that, for her DWTS was more “about personal growth” by the end. Being in the competition reshaped how the Thank God You’re Here alumni viewed her body and mind and their limitations for the better.
“I don’t know anything about neural pathways, but something got rewired in my brain during the rehearsals and the show. I came back to London, when it was over, with a strength, and a part of my personality, I haven’t seen or felt for five or six years. It was transformative. The show gave me back the ability/necessity to still enjoy things despite other things being hard or stressful. So I suppose I’m grateful, more than proud.”
Catch Felicity Ward on Dancing With The Stars Australia 2025 on Sundays from 7pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.
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