Eric Roberts ‘Scared to Death’ About ‘DWTS’ But Dishes on Pre-Show Rituals With Britt Stewart (EXCLUSIVE)
Plus, the sweet reason he agreed to be on the show
Season 33 of Dancing With The Stars is right around the corner and one pair is ready to spill on how preparation has gone.
Actor Eric Roberts — best known for his work in Runaway Train (1985) — and pro Britt Stewart — who also is the president of the nonprofit Share the Movement — recently sat down with Woman’s World to talk pre-show rituals, how teaming up has gone and who they are most nervous about competing against. Keep scrolling for more.
Woman’s World: What are you most excited about for this upcoming ‘Dancing With The Stars’ season?
Eric Roberts: I’m desperately looking forward to getting through it and saying, “We did it!” That’s what I look forward to, because it’s the most frightening thing I’ve ever undertaken and the farthest from myself I’ve ever been.
Britt Stewart: I would definitely say that I’m excited for him to experience that feeling of getting through it, but then I’m really excited for him to also be able to start to enjoy it, too. There have been these little glimpses in our rehearsals where I start to see him drop that fear aspect and really start to enjoy himself, so I’m excited about that. Then I’m just excited for Eric to experience why this journey of Dancing With The Stars is so special.
WW: How did you react when you learned you would be paired up with one another?
Eric Roberts: My wife said, “You have the best partner,” and she was very happy for me. My wife watches the show regularly. I just watched it as I walked through the room, or if she goes, “Come see this,” I come watch a dance. But now I’m doing this show for my wife, because, once again, happy wife, happy life.
Britt Stewart: When I found out I was paired with Eric, I was really excited, because he is such a legend in what he does. I had people who told me how accredited of an actor he is, and then I actually went and Googled him and saw how significant his work is. So, being able to have him as a partner and make sure that he looks good week after week is something that I take a lot of pride in, because I want him to feel good about what you’re doing in the ballroom.
WW: Eric, what are you most nervous about going into the season premiere and are you doing anything to prepare?
Eric Roberts: I’m scared to death. There’s no hiding it. There’s no pretending to be cool. This is a fear factor I’m living in. I’m living in the fear lane, and I hope when we get to the first dance, that the fear starts to fall away, because it’s horrible, it’s in my way and I’m just petrified.
I’m a very confident actor; I don’t spend my days like this. So this is hard for me and it’s taught me how much I don’t know about myself physically. And I’m not a kid, so I’m behind, so it’s a lot of catch-up in movement and catch-up in coordination. And thank God I have a great, sweet, understanding, empathetic coach.
WW:You also have a memoir coming out soon. What do you want people to know about that?
Eric Roberts: It’s called Runaway Train. That’s what the publisher named it.
I did not embellish or exaggerate. I told about my fears, trials, tribulations and triumphs, the lovely family that I come from and the family that I chose. Half of our children live across the street from us, along with two of our grandchildren. So it’s a life worth advertising, because I love my life.
WW: So what would you say scarier: acting, ‘Dancing with the Stars’ or writing your memoir?
Eric Roberts: I think writing my memoir and Dancing With The Stars are neck and neck.
Britt Stewart: Your wife, Eliza, and I are trying to help you out of that. We’re trying to ease you down.
WW: Britt, over to you. You have been on this show for quite some time now. How does this season feel different from the others, and what do you want viewers to know from a behind-the-scenes perspective?
Britt Stewart: This is my fifth season as a pro, but as part of the whole Dancing with the Stars family, this is my 10th season on the show, because I had five seasons prior on Troop I really feel very integrated in Dancing with the Stars.
What I love is every single season is different. For me, every partner that I’ve had is not like the other, so, I always take away something different. I always come into a new season with no expectations and with just an open heart and an open mind, because I love to experience new people, new ways of teaching, new ways of choreographing and new ways of connecting with different people. I would say that this season is no different than any other season, as I always see it as an opportunity for growth and newness and evolution in my life.
From a behind-the-scenes perspective, I want viewers to know that my words for this season are joy and fun and that Eric and I are having a good time.
WW: Do either of you have any pre-show rituals that you can share? We would love to hear about any superstations as well!
Eric Roberts: I just stretch. That’s my only pre-anything ritual. I stretch my hammies and my butt.
Britt Stewart: I do stretch, but for a while now I’ve started this thing where I always drive to CVS with eye masks on. It’s just, like, a thing. I also always take a moment before the live show to light candles, turn on healing sound-frequency music and meditate. I do this because, for our partners, this is overwhelming, especially the first show. They’re completely out of their comfort zone, dancing for millions of people every night, so it’s very important that I’m super grounded.
WW: Which pair (s) are you most nervous about competing against?
Eric Roberts: All of them.
Britt Stewart: I agree. But the first day that I met Eric, a producer asked him, “Who are you most scared of? Who do you think is your biggest competition?” knew that I would really get along with Eric when he said, “No one, because no one’s like Eric Roberts. I am only Eric in the ballroom and nobody else.”
Eric Roberts: That’s not quite how it went. They said to me, “Who are you most scared of?” and I said, “ I’m scared of everybody, because they’re gonna all out dance me, but there’s nobody like Britt.” We’re all individuals. We’re all going to have our own thing, so they aren’t going to really compare, except the fact that we’re in what’s called a competition. I don’t look at it that way, though. I’m not competing with anybody except with Brit’s instructions.
WW: Finally, can you give our readers a little insider info about what you will be dancing to?
Britt Stewart: We are dancing the Cha Cha to “Old Time Rock and Roll.” I love it, because every time I play the music, Eric instantly sings along in the world of that song. It just makes me happy watching you listen to that song.
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