Strictly star Ellie Leach's life off-screen: Famous cousin and movie career before Corrie

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Former soap actress Ellie Leach made an explosive impression when she took to the dancefloor for his first live performance on Strictly Come Dancing last week.

Alongside professional partner Vito Coppola, the star got top marks for her impressive jive.They have been making such an impact that viewers at home tuning into the BBC dancing competition have sparked rumours there could be a romance between the pair as they commented on their "chemistry" following last week's show.Judge Shirley Ballas admitted she was "blown away" by their performance with it only being week one, as Moti Mabuse echoed her thoughts and praised the Coronation Street star for the "incredible" routine.Even infamously harsh critic Craig Revel Horwood remarked on the "sharp and precise" routine as he hailed her as an "incredible dancer," with fans believing she could be this year's dark horse of the competition.

But how did Ellie rise to fame? and what is her background away from the cameras?Ellie Leach, 22, is an actress from Bury in England and she joined the ITV soap Coronation Street at the tender age of 10, where she was a fan favourite on the cobbles since her debut in 2011.She was nominated for two British Soap Awards for her performances, with the young actress climbing up the ladder during her soap stint.She first began her career in television appearing in commercials for Staples and McDonald's.

Before joining Coronation Street, the young actress appeared in the film A Boy Called Dad, which tells the story of Robbie, a 14-year-old boy who has just become a father.