Strictly star swaps ballroom for Hollywood with movie debut
Former professional boxer Nicola, 42, appeared on the 18th series of the BBC dance competition in 2020.
She made history when partnered with professional dancer Katya Jones as the show's first-ever same-sex partnership.
However, her Strictly dreams were cut abruptly short when they were forced to withdraw during the fourth week of the competition, after Katya tested positive for Covid-19.
The two-time Olympic champ will now pursue another dream—turning her hand to acting in an upcoming movie.
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Nicola will star alongside Poppy Delevigne, Jack Kesy, and Bruce Willis's daughter, Rumer, in the allegorical thriller The Gun on Second Street.
Talking about her career move, Nicola told The Sun: 'I just want to work with people that are just as hungry as I am.
'I'm not one of those people that just show up and just expect everything to be fine.
'I put in the work, I put in the graft, just as I do as an athlete as well. I want to take it as far as I can in terms of how I grow as an actor, being able to experience different types of roles, playing different characters that really flex my abilities and my ability to be able to dig deep on the emotions that are needed for the more dark characters.'
Written and directed by Rohit Karn Batra, its story follows two police officers who are called to a domestic violence dispute on the titular Second Street in Philadelphia.
The call-out goes awry when one officer accidentally shoots and kills the other.
The film is described as an allegory about the gun crisis in America. At present, Nicola is listed on IMDB, although her character has not been named.
Nicola rose to fame during the Olympics in 2012, becoming the first female boxer to win Olympic Gold for Britain.
She went on to successfully defend her title at Rio 2016, before winning the title of WBO (World Boxing Organisation) flyweight in 2019.
The athlete was forced into an early retirement that same year due to a serious eye injury, having only fought six times as a pro.
She returned to the spotlight the very next year as a Strictly hopeful and has since expressed how much she'd love to return as a contestant due to 'unfinished business' after her premature departure.
Of her decision to retire, Nicola said in 2019: 'I'm immensely honoured to have represented our country—to win double Olympic gold medals and then the WBO championship belt is a dream come true.
'But it's not without taking its toll on my body, and aside from the expected aches and pains, I've been advised that any further impact to my eye would most likely lead to irreparable damage and permanent vision loss.
'Boxing has always been such an important part of my life—and it always will—but after training every day for over 20 years, my body is quite looking forward to a rest!'
More recently, Nicola is reported to have split from her partner of seven years, Ella Baig.
The boxer began dating the OnlyFans model, 27, after they met on a night out in 2018. More Trending
Now, the couple share two-year-old son, Taylor Nate, who was born via IVF using one of Nicola's eggs.
A spokesperson told The Sun in March: 'Nicola and Ella have shared an incredible journey together, full of love, growth, and resilience.
'After much thoughtful reflection and important therapy work, they have made the difficult decision to separate.
View More »
'Their priority remains their son, Taylor, and they are committed to co-parenting with love and respect.'
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