Entertainment I'm A Celeb's Ruthie Henshall says dancing 'saved' her after abuse

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Ruthie Henshall has said 'discovering a love for dancing saved her' after she was abused by a family friend when she was four-years-old.

The I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestant, 53, spoke candidly about her past, adding that it was 'extraordinary' to find something to channel her feelings into.

She told The Daily Mirror: 'When I found dancing, it was like somebody had turned the light on in my life. I couldn't get enough of it.'

© Provided by Daily Mail Candid: I'm A Celebrity's Ruthie Henshall has said 'discovering a love for dancing saved her' after she was abused by a family friend when she was just four-years-old

Ruthie, who grew up in Kent and trained at Laine Theatre Arts School in Surrey, said she struggled with relationships in the years after being abused and would 'behave badly'.

I'm A Celeb stars baffle fans when they start talking about 'R and R'

Fans of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! were left unconvinced on Tuesday night, after the campmates seemed aware of 'surprise' newcomers Ruthie Henshall and Russell Watson. During the final moments of the show - which are aired live - hosts Ant and Dec told the 10 celeb contestants already in the castle that they were all taking part in the trial.After this, the presenters told viewers at home that the camp had no idea they were going to be joined by singer Russell and actress Ruthie. © Provided by Daily Mail We're onto you! Fans of I'm A Celebrity...

Businesswoman Karren, 51, shares her eldest child and son Paolo, 21, with ex-footballer husband Paul Peschisolido, 49. In a previous interview, West Ham United F.C.' s 'It was like somebody turned the light on in my life': I ' m A Celebrity ' s Ruthie Henshall says dancing ' saved her ' after childhood abuse .

1995-1996 - JULIA ROBERTS - The star began dating after Julia made a guest appearance on Friends. 1996- YASMINE BLEETH - Matthew briefly dated Baywatch 'It was like somebody turned the light on in my life': I ' m A Celebrity ' s Ruthie Henshall says dancing ' saved her ' after childhood abuse .

However having performing and being able to dance gave her an outlet for some of her feelings.

She said: 'It was extraordinary to find something to channel all these feelings that were going on inside me. I really believe it saved little Ruthie.'

The West End star also reflected on how she got into ballet after asking another girl on the playground why she did ballet as it is 'sissy'.

© Provided by Daily Mail Life changing: The West End star, 53, who has performed in dozens of hit shows, added that she thinks dancing really 'saved little Ruthie' (pictured in Crazy For You in 1993)

Ruthie said the youngster told her to give it a try if she thought it was 'sissy' and the performer never looked back.

Ruthie also candidly reflected on her difficult past in a 2011 interview with The Daily Mail, telling the paper that she prefers not to say exactly what happened.

I'm A Celeb: Russell Watson and Ruthie Henshall win 11 stars

Russell Watson and Ruthie Henshall, both 53, will no doubt prove a hit among their fellow celebs as they managed to bag 11 out of 12 stars during their first trial. The duo took part in the three part challenge, who were originally told they would all be taking part in the trial, but later discovered they were merely spectators.

I ’ m A Celebrity ’ s Beverley Callard has shocked her campmates with the rude pet name she has for her partner, John. In tonight’ s episode, she started her morning in camp by Callard, Giovanna Fletcher, Jessica Plummer and Ruthie Henshall all took part in Mean Massage, a trial where they had to lie on

Tess Daly admits she 'welled up' when husband Vernon Kay broke down in tears after Beverly Callard gave him her spa treatment on I ' m A Celebrity . Jessica Plummer, Giovanna Fletcher, Ruthie Henshall and Beverley were the chosen four who has to lie down and get massaged with the snakes

However she did reveal that she was only four-and-a-half when a close and trusted family friend sexually abused her.

She explained: ‘But it was serious, and he frightened me as much by what he said afterwards as by what he’d done.

© Provided by Daily Mail Performer: Ruthie trained at Laine Theatre Arts School in Surrey after getting into ballet when she chatted to another child on the playground about it (pictured in Crazy For You in 1993)

© Provided by Daily Mail Emotional: Ruthie previously talked about the abuse in a 2011 interview with The Daily Mail, saying that she doesn't like to discuss what exactly happened (pictured on I'm A Celebrity)

'I don’t remember the words he used. But I can clearly recall his finger wagging in my face and the threat of what would happen if I told anyone “our” secret. I was very, very scared, properly afraid.’

I'm A Celeb's Jordan sanitises his hands after massaging Ruthie's FEET

Thursday night's episode saw a creepy jester set newcomers Russell Watson and Ruthie Henshall sneaky secret challenges . And Ruthie's, 53, first challenge was to convince fellow I'm A Celebrity campmate Jordan North, 30, to massage her bare feet, to which he courteously obliged.Viewers praised the BBC Radio One DJ for being 'such a nice lad' and were then left in hysterics as he swiftly sanitised his hands, with a disgusted look across his face.

After scrubbing the pots and pans, the dancer commented on how much cleaner they were looking thanks to his own handiwork. It comes after AJ was left unimpressed when he discovered the pans hadn't been cleaned and ended up having a little tiff with Shane on Monday night.

However, he said he ultimately respects her decision. 'He' s a good person and I love him,' she continues. 'We've always had a very rocky relationship Lady Colin C SLAMS I ' m A Celeb star Ruthie Henshall for breaking royal protocol by shaking the Queen' s hand after detailing Prince Edward romp.

The same man then repeated the abuse when Ruthie was eight and nine. ‘And I never breathed a word to anyone,’ she said.

Ruthie has starred in dozens of stage shows during her career including Cats, Miss Saigon, Crazy For You, Les Miserables and Chicago.

On Thursday's I'm A Celebrity she reflected on her time in Crazy For You and said that she once 'nearly had an accident on stage' after being given 'something for a bad stomach' by Hollywood star Micky Rooney.

Ruthie said: 'He mixed something all up and told me to "drink it all", so I glugged it down and I got to a number called Stiff Upper Lip, and I thought "I'm either going to be sick or I'm going to poo myself in front of 1200 people".

'I ran off stage both, both ends came off but the projectile came first as I was getting into the wings.'

Ruthie's role in Crazy For You at the Prince Edward Theatre back in 1993 established her as one of the most popular stars in the West End.

She was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance and took the show to Canada where she acted opposite Mickey Rooney, who died in April 2014.

I'm A Celeb viewers claim 'creepy' jester sounds like Salad Fingers

The painting was used to give Ruthie Henshall and Russell Watson prank tasks to complete in order to win luxury items for the camp, however some viewers thought it sounded like Salad Fingers.The painting was used to give Ruthie Henshall and Russell Watson prank tasks to complete in order to win luxury items for the camp.

Stage show Crazy For You is largely based on 1930s musical Girl Crazy. The 1943 film saw Mickey play the lead of Danny Churchill alongside Judy Garland as Ginger Gray.

© Provided by Daily Mail Close call! Ruthie has reflected on her career several times during her stint at the Welsh camp and on Thursday revealed she 'nearly had an accident on stage' after being given 'something for a bad stomach' by Hollywood star Micky Rooney