I discovered there’s a lot more to Dancing With The Stars’ judge Tristan MacManus than kicking up his Irish heels. He’s a fan of ABBA, Courtney Act, oh and he’s hot!
You’ve seen a lot of contestants come through the show. Has there been any with that real X factor?
Tristan MacManus: Yes, Courtney Act was superb! She was so entertaining and powerful. It was something I wasn’t expecting, and there was a lot of meaning behind it all. It was way more than just dancing. The show in its nature is very difficult to do and these people take themselves out of their comfort zone to be judged and, for some, to be ridiculed. But they’re still able to flip the hair, walk in and come back the following week with chins held high. That’s very admirable to watch. That’s the X-factor right there!
You came from Bray, Wicklow in Ireland, to dance professionally throughout Europe, before scoring work in American television and here. What do you think was your sliding door moment?
I think that moment came when I was in my teens, where I just wasn’t enjoying myself. I don’t know if it was my dancing that I wasn’t enjoying, or just that period of my life, but I walked away for a few years and went a bit rouge. I didn’t really have any inspirations or ambitions until I went to see the show Burn The Floor, in Dublin. I wasn’t particularly interested at first, but I went along and found it unbelievable. It was a joy to watch and made me dance again. Everybody in the show was so individual and different. It was the first show I saw where the dancers had distinct personalities that complimented each other. I think it’s so necessary to have that diversity and to see people enjoy themselves. That struck a chord with me and was the moment I decided to go back to dancing – and do it the way I wanted.
Tristan MacManus performing on Dancing With The Stars
While doing the US version of Dancing With The Stars you partnered some great names including Gladys Knight and Pamela Anderson. How did you find them?
At first I took a step back because I found it quite bizarre and unexpected, but once in the moment, it became absolutely normal. It’s very easy to forget that people are just people, and what’s important is that I got to know them as people. What I came to appreciate most about Dancing With The Stars, when I first started, is that if you don’t treat people like people, they won’t treat you the same way back. I was very lucky that these stars, for lack of a better word, treated me like a normal person. That’s what it comes down to. While competing on the show, they’re still putting themselves in your hands and a position to be ridiculed by people, and we have to remember and respect that.
“While I’m sitting there alone in a gay bar, some people from Dublin came in, who I hadn’t seen since childhood.”
You also partnered the late and great Valerie Harper, who along with Mary Tyler Moore, are gay icons!
Oh yes, Valerie was amazing. At first I didn’t know who she was. All I knew was that she was a dancer on Broadway and wanted to dance again but was also terminal with brain cancer. I thought that sounded tragic and wondered why we were doing this? Was it about someone’s misfortune for the ratings? But I was told she wanted to do it. I asked to meet her and she was very straightforward and honest with me, but most importantly very inclusive. She was interested in my life, my wife and whole family. She put all of that first. The first thing she’d say in rehearsals was “How’s your wife?” I’d ask her how she felt and she’d brush it off and say how great it was just to be there. Valarie was great in giving you a perspective on how to appreciate things and when she passed it was something that really affected me. I still feel emotional about it. She was very special and I miss her.
Did you watch an episode of her classic sitcom Rhoda?
Yes, she made me! And I thought, “This is the Valerie that I know.” She was exactly like the character. She couldn’t be any nicer or funnier. When people tell me they love Rhoda, I tell them they are pretty much watching Valerie, just by a different name.
Who is your music diva?
My daughter has recently gotten into Taylor Swift, and I never thought Taylor Swift would be someone I’d be listening to constantly everyday! But I guess you can’t look past Beyoncé. She has it all and just keeps pumping out classics. I’d also have to say Kylie. She’s awesome and I’ve been lucky enough to work with her on a few occasions.
Tristan MacManus on Dancing With The Stars
You also played Elder Peach in the Mrs Brown’s Boys tour. How was that experience?
I danced with Jenny Gibney, who plays Cathy Brown, on Strictly Come Dancing and we became really good friends. We kept in touch and when they toured Australia with Mrs Brown’s Boys, I was asked to join. I thought it was perfect, being Irish and all, but when I got the script I was playing Elder Peach, a Mormon. The thing is, I hate brushing my hair. I’m really lazy when it comes to that. The thing with Elder Peach is that I had loads of gel combed into my hair, which was so frustrating. I think I had more gel in it than an actual Mormon! But I absolutely loved doing it, and I love Mrs Brown’s Boys. In fact I ended up becoming one of the producers.
You’re pretty much an Aussie now, but have you ever been to Mardi Gras?
Not Mardi Gras, but years ago a friend of mine was having a birthday party on Oxford Street, so I went to this gay club to meet for drinks. My mate went off to the toilet, and while I’m sitting there alone in a gay bar, some people from Dublin came in, that I hadn’t seen since childhood. They were like “What are you doing in here?” That moment couldn’t have been timed any better, and I’m sure it went home!
“People are very confident in their bodies, their sexuality and place within society, and that’s inspiring.”
As a young dancer, did people make the presumption that you were gay?
Oh, one hundred percent. Dancing was something that I kept a secret for a long time. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to express why I liked it. Back then I didn’t understand that I actually didn’t need to validate why I liked it. I wasn’t sure if people would appreciate my dancing and coming from a small town in Ireland I thought it wouldn’t be accepted. I wasn’t mature enough to embrace being a dancer, but I certainly do now. I wish I had been more comfortable with it back then, but it’s very different now. I look at the little kids these days and they’re so inspiring. They’re confident and know what they want to do. Not just dancing either, but confident about everything. People are very confident in their bodies, their sexuality and place within society, and that’s inspiring.
Tristan MacManus with fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood, and Sharna Burgess
If you were gay, who would be your man crush?
My wife thinks I have a man crush on Keanu Reeves and Matthew McConaughey, but as cool as they are, I’m not letting either nibble my ears! But I’d have to say Michael Fassbender. He’s a fellow Irishman and a handsome bloke, so maybe we can hold hands and have a cuddle! (Laughing)
“I had to drop into a squat and my trousers ripped literally from arsehole to belly button!”
It probably wouldn’t take much to get you on a dance floor, but what song definitely gets you up?
Actually I’m the last person to get up dancing! I think I must be too self-conscious. I’m one of those introverted extrovert people. But the big song for me is You’re The Voice by John Farnham.
Not ABBA’s Dancing Queen?
The funny thing about ABBA is that for the past few years I’ve been doing the ABBA Festival at Trundle. I dance in a show and give a dancing lesson to the crowd. I never appreciated ABBA as much, until going there and seeing how much people love them. Like a lot of other bands, ABBA was often taken for granted, but what an impact they made! The Winner Takes It All would be my favourite.
Tristan MacManus
Have you ever had an on-set wardrobe malfunction?
I’ve had loads. On one of my first days of rehearsals for Burn The Floor I had all the producers, choreographers and cast members sitting in front of me, and I thought I’d better make an impression. During my dance I had to drop into a squat and my trousers ripped literally from arsehole to belly button. Luckily I had underwear on underneath. That certainly broke the ice!
So, is it briefs, fitted boxers or free-balling?
I’m boxers, but it really depends on laundry day. I don’t free-ball that much anymore. I used to when I was single, but I don’t think I have to anymore!
Dancing With The Stars screens 7.30pm Sundays on Network TEN
