Dita Von Teese has revealed performing as Beetroot on The Masked Dancer was even more nerve-wracking than stripping on stage in her steamy burlesque act.
The performer and former wife of Marilyn Manson was unveiled on the ITV show after losing a dance off with Knickerbocker Glory.
She revealed the elaborate costume which affected her balance, vision and hearing, making it tough to dance and even to walk around.
Asked if she had any regrets, Dita, 48, replied: "I wish I’d had more rehearsal time!
"I’m a slow learner, and I have a thing where I perform better when there’s a big live audience. Also, it’s probably the first time I’ve ever performed without having a half a glass of icy cold champagne before I go onstage… for luck, and for my nerves.
"But dancing as a beetroot was far more nerve-wracking than striptease! Don’t think I didn’t consider shedding those leaves for my dance finale!
She added: "I loved my sleek beet-red unitard underneath it all!"
Dita explained: "Some of the choreography I had for Masked Dancer is very different from how I move for my own shows. In my burlesque shows, I have my own little ‘codes’ and a signature style, and I’m usually hyper-focused on the functions of my complicated striptease costumes.
"It’s also a real challenge to be masked while performing because I’m used to conveying a feeling to a large, live audience in a theatre. Being masked, and being on TV is VERY different.
"On the other hand, it was also hard for me to perform the unmasked bit.
"I didn’t really have a chance to think about how it would be to dance as ME after the unmasking. I was actually kind of surprised at how hard it was for me to take off the mask and do the dance as 'me'."
On the difficulty of her huge costume, Dita said nothing could have prepared her for how hard it was to wear.
"My visibility was compromised quite a bit, so my balance was off. I literally could not see if someone was gesturing two feet in front of me.
Then the inner-ears device created an added impairment for me. I am sure singers are accustomed to it. And Beetroot had a few moves in the choreography she could do fine in rehearsal but not with all the gear on.
Dita joked that sometimes wearing the mask made it easier to perform dance move in if she felt uncomfortable.
"I felt ridiculous sometimes, but that was par for the course," she said.
"Every time I would feel inept and silly, I’d have to remember the big picture… “YOU ARE A DANCING BEETROOT ON THE SILLIEST SHOW ON TV!”
The Masked Dancer on ITV & the ITV Hub continues at 7.30pm on Tuesday
