During a conversation with Newsweek, actor Eric Roberts addressed the “insane” reaction he received after he was revealed as a contestant on Season 33 of ABC‘s Dancing with the Stars.
Roberts—known for films such as Star 80 (1983) and Runaway Train (1985)—has finally made his long-awaited debut on the show after originally being asked to join 19 years ago. Unfortunately, a scheduling conflict came up and he had to decline.
Now, the stars have aligned and he can finally compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy alongside stars such as Beverly Hills, 90210 actor Tori Spelling, Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks and Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher.
“The reaction on the internet was insane,” Roberts told Newsweek. “My wife’s computer kind of blew up. And everybody with opinions and everybody with advice and everybody with, ‘Oh my God.'”
His dancing partner, Britt Stewart, said she has advised Roberts to ignore whatever the internet might say about his inclusion in the show, as well as his performances—advice she follows herself.
“People have opinions left and right and I think Eric teaches me this to, like, he has been in this industry for so long like he is a pro at all these things,” the dancer explained. “He’s a pro at the pressure—and he’s still human. So yes, we were still nervous [on the first night of the show].”
Roberts quipped: “I was a wreck.”
Stewart agreed, telling Roberts that while she loves him, he was a wreck on the first night. However, she emphasized that together, they “pulled through.”
Actor Eric Roberts is seen on February 2 in New York City. Roberts has addressed with Newsweek the “insane” reaction that be being announced as a contestant on Season 33 of “Dancing with the Stars” received.
John Nacion/Getty Images
“It’s okay. But I think he is good at that. He’s good at tuning out the noise,” she said. “I am a fiercely sensitive person. And so sometimes that outside noise gets to me, but I’m learning every day to not do it, to not pay attention to that, but then to also like if there is something positive, to really be able to feel that too.”
Roberts, who only has nice things to say about his dance partner, added: “Isn’t she cool? Isn’t she cool? She’s amazing!”
Roberts has joined Dancing with the Stars with no dance experience, which Stewart explained isn’t a bad thing. After all, the show is about teaching people with no experience how to dance. Stewart explained that while he is on the long-running competition show, the Hollywood actor will inevitably learn various dancing styles.
For the second episode airing on September 24, the duo is performing a waltz, which is a ballroom dance performed in triple time. The professional dancer told Newsweek that this means Roberts has to completely transition from this high-tempo rock-and-roll cha-cha they performed in the first week to now learning how to be graceful.
“So inevitably I will be teaching new dance moves constantly. But for us as a whole it’s also about, we can’t say enough [that it’s] about enjoying the process,” Stewart said.
She added: “Eric is gonna kill me for saying this—but what I really want him to get out of this process, is finding grace for himself and not being so self-critical. You are amazing at what you do and dance is out of your comfort zone, but that’s what this process is about and you’re doing great and you’re right where you need to be.”
