Amber Davies – From Love Island Winner to West End Star

Amber Davies first captured the public’s attention as the winner of Love Island in 2017, but she has since carved out a distinct path in musical theatre, performing in West End productions and landing the lead role in the UK tour of Legally Blonde. Born in Denbigh, Wales, Davies has built a career that spans reality television, stage acting, and dance, becoming one of the most recognisable faces to emerge from the Love Island franchise. Her journey from a scholarship student at the Urdang Academy to a Strictly Come Dancing finalist and stage star marks a notable shift in the expectations placed on reality TV contestants.

Who Is Amber Davies? Biography and Background

Born
4 October 1996 (age 29 as of June 2026)

Birthplace
Denbigh, Wales

Height
5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)

Known For
Love Island winner (2017), Strictly Come Dancing finalist (2025), West End actress

Key Insights

Davies successfully transitioned from reality TV to legitimate stage acting, a rare career pivot among Love Island winners.
Her role as Elle Woods in the Legally Blonde UK tour (2026) marks her highest-profile stage role to date.
Despite winning Love Island, she is now primarily recognised for her West End and musical theatre work.
She remains one of the most successful Love Island alumni in terms of post-show career longevity.
At age 16, she earned a scholarship to study musical theatre at the Urdang Academy in London.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full name	Amber Elizabeth Davies
Date of birth	4 October 1996
Birthplace	Denbigh, North Wales, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Height	5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Occupation	Actress, TV personality, podcaster
Years active	2017–present
Notable works	Love Island (winner, series 3), Strictly Come Dancing (finalist, series 23), 9 to 5: The Musical, Legally Blonde UK tour (Elle Woods)
Instagram followers	Over 1.3 million (@amb_d)
Current partner	Ben Joyce (actor, dating since 2022)

Davies was born and raised in North Wales, and detailed biographical records can be found on Wikipedia.

What Is Amber Davies Famous For? Career Highlights

Davies rose to prominence by winning the third series of Love Island in 2017 alongside Kem Cetinay, a victory that launched her into the public eye. Shortly after, she competed in the 23rd series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2025 as a replacement for Dani Dyer, partnering with Nikita Kuzmin. The couple finished as joint runners-up alongside George Clarke and Alexis Warr.

Her television credits extend beyond reality competitions. She played Jess in the CBBC series Almost Never (2021), competed on the 16th series of Dancing on Ice (2024, finishing eighth), and appeared in the documentary Amber & Dolly: 9 to 5, which documented her stage debut.

The BBC covered her journey extensively in their Strictly Come Dancing profile.

West End and Musical Theatre Roles

After Love Island, Davies transitioned into professional musical theatre, appearing in at least five West End productions:

9 to 5: The Musical (2019) – played Judy Bernly
Bring It On: The Musical (2021)
Back to the Future: The Musical (2022) – played Lorraine Baines McFly
Pretty Woman: The Musical (2023) – played Vivian Ward
The Great Gatsby (2025) – played Jordan Baker at the London Coliseum, alongside Jamie Muscato and Corbin Bleu

Her stage credits are catalogued by BroadwayWorld.

Training Background

Davies studied musical theatre at the Urdang Academy on a scholarship from age 16. Before television fame, she worked as a dancer at the London nightclub Cirque Le Soir and auditioned multiple times for The X Factor. She also reached the final of the singing competition Gospel Dream in 2009.

Is Amber Davies a Trained Dancer?

Yes. Her training at Urdang Academy gave her a strong foundation in dance and musical theatre. That background served her well on Strictly Come Dancing, where she reached the final, and on Dancing on Ice, where she placed eighth. Some casting databases list a playing height of 5 ft 8 in for acting roles, but her actual physical measurement is 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in), according to her IMDB profile.

Is Amber Davies in Legally Blonde? Current Role

Davies was cast as Elle Woods for the 2026 UK tour of Legally Blonde. The production marks her highest-profile stage role to date, giving her a lead part in a well-known musical property. She promoted the role via Instagram, stating: “Hi guys, I’m Amber Davies and I play Elle Woods in Legally Blonde!”

Beyond the stage, Davies has also launched a podcast and continues to maintain an active presence on social media, with over 1.3 million followers on Instagram (@amb_d).

What’s Next?

Following the Legally Blonde tour, potential next steps include a possible West End transfer, a new musical theatre role, or television and film acting opportunities. She is also expected to continue growing her podcast platform.

Is Amber Davies Married? Personal Life and Relationships

As of 2026, Davies is not married. She is in a relationship with actor Ben Joyce, whom she began dating in 2022. Her past relationships include her Love Island winning partner Kem Cetinay (2017), dancer Perri Kiely (late 2018), and Nick Kyriacou (2020–2021).

Her personal life has remained relatively private in recent years, though she occasionally shares glimpses on social media. No public information suggests she is engaged or planning a wedding. Additional biographical details are available at Famous Birthdays.

Timeline: From Love Island to Legally Blonde

1996 – Born in Denbigh, Wales on 4 October.
2017 – Won Love Island series 3 with Kem Cetinay.
2017 – Competed in Strictly Come Dancing series 15 (original note: series 23 per research) as a joint runner-up with Nikita Kuzmin.
2019 – Made West End debut in 9 to 5: The Musical, playing Judy Bernly.
2021 – Starred in Bring It On: The Musical and appeared in CBBC series Almost Never.
2022 – Played Lorraine Baines McFly in Back to the Future: The Musical.
2023 – Played Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman: The Musical.
2024 – Competed on Dancing on Ice, finishing eighth.
2025 – Played Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby at the London Coliseum; joint runner-up on Strictly Come Dancing.
2026 – Cast as Elle Woods in the UK tour of Legally Blonde.

Certainty and Uncertainty: What We Know and What Remains Unclear

Established Information	Information That Remains Unclear
Date of birth: 4 October 1996 (Wikipedia, official records).	Current relationship status: publicly confirmed as dating Ben Joyce (as of 2026), but future plans are private.
Love Island winner in 2017 (broadcast evidence).	Exact height: commonly listed as 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) on IMDB, but some casting databases list 5 ft 8 in for acting roles.
Strictly Come Dancing finalist in 2025 (BBC records).	Net worth: no reliable public figures available; estimates vary widely.
Currently playing Elle Woods in the Legally Blonde UK tour (2026).	Details about future television or film projects have not been formally announced.

Why Amber Davies Matters: Career Context and Significance

Davies represents a notable case of a reality TV star successfully pivoting to a legitimate stage career. Unlike many Love Island winners who pursue influencer careers, she invested in musical theatre training and secured multiple West End roles, giving her credibility as a performer. Her casting as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde is significant because it marks a major tour role for a Love Island alum, challenging perceptions of reality TV contestants’ acting abilities. Her career path mirrors that of other reality-to-stage transitions but with more sustained theatrical success.

Sources and Quotes

“WOS award winning actress & Strictly Finalist ❤️”

— Amber Davies, Instagram bio

“Amber Davies is an Actor, Podcaster and TV Personality best known for winning Love Island in 2017, starring in West End productions of 9 to 5: The Musical.”

— BBC Strictly Come Dancing profile

“Hi guys, I’m Amber Davies and I play Elle Woods in Legally Blonde!”

— Instagram Reel (DZKl2Ubsuxc)

Key sources include Wikipedia, BroadwayWorld, BBC, IMDB, Famous Birthdays, and the official Instagram account.

Summary: Amber Davies in 2026

Amber Davies has built a career that few Love Island winners have managed: a steady progression from reality TV to West End musicals, culminating in her current lead role as Elle Woods in the Legally Blonde UK tour. At 29, she remains one of the most visible and versatile figures to emerge from the show, with a Strictly Come Dancing final and multiple stage credits behind her. For more on other celebrities who have taken the Strictly stage, see our article on Amanda Abbington – Life, Career and Strictly Come Dancing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Amber Davies net worth?

Amber Davies’ net worth is not publicly disclosed. Estimates vary widely and should be treated as speculative.

Does Amber Davies have children?

No, Amber Davies does not have any children.

Is Amber Davies on Instagram?

Yes, her Instagram handle is @amb_d with over 1.3 million followers.

What is Amber Davies’ real name?

Her full name is Amber Elizabeth Davies.

Did Amber Davies win Strictly Come Dancing?

No, she was a joint runner-up in the 23rd series (2025) alongside George Clarke and Alexis Warr. The winners that year were not her.

Is Amber Davies still with Ben Joyce?

As of 2026, she is in a relationship with actor Ben Joyce, whom she began dating in 2022.

Where is Amber Davies from?

She was born in Denbigh, North Wales, United Kingdom.

What was Amber Davies’ first West End show?

Her West End debut was in 9 to 5: The Musical in 2019, playing Judy Bernly.

How tall is Amber Davies?

Her confirmed height is 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m), though some casting databases list a playing height of 5 ft 8 in.

How old is Amber Davies?

Born on 4 October 1996, she is 29 years old as of June 2026.

Additional sources

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