Former Strictly Come Dancing star Amanda Abbington has spoken out about professional dancer, Giovanni Pernice‘s, behaviour during their intimate Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals in an explosive BBC interview. The Sherlock actress spoke to BBC Newsnight’s Victoria Derbyshire following the BBC releasing results of a probe into his alleged behaviour against her.
When publishing the report, the BBC confirmed that six of Amanda’s initial 17 allegations against the Italian pro were substantiated by their in-house probe. In the interview, Amanda made it clear she has “no regrets” about her complaints towards Giovanni, despite it being “one of the worst years of her life”.
Now an expert has claimed that Amanda appeared to be “wary and vulnerable” in the bombshell tell-all. But the way that she was speaking to the BBC interviewer also exerted “openness”.
Judi James, body language expert, analysed the interview as she told Express.co.uk: “Abbington’s simple, severe monochrome styling here is in complete contrast to all the showbiz glitz of Strictly.
“She sits in an elegant, composed pose with her legs crossed and her arms folded in her lap wearing a part-smile that looks polite but also slightly wary and vulnerable.”
The expert continued: “Her voice is soft but firm in intent and her eyes move from her interviewer to the camera as though keeping up a conversation with two people.
Asked about the apology Abbington performs an asymmetric, wry smile before using calmly emphatic head batons as she replies and throwing her hands out to suggest openness.
“She seems to be keeping any hint of drama out of her body language here, despite what she describes as ‘One of the worst years of my life’.”
Judi explained a bit more about how Amanda might have been feeling as she said: “There are some clues to inner emotions as she performs a tongue-poke and then sucks her lips in.
She puts her glasses on to read from the report and giving examples when asked, her movements become more staccato and her thumbs rub together in a sign of possible anxiety or upset.
“She rubs her hands together in a similar gesture and there is another wry smile as Pernice’s quotes are read out to her.”