BETTSIE Bonbon left her job as an underwriter at Lloyds of London to become a burlesque dancer. She will star in An Evening of Burlesque on Saturday July 13 at the Princes Theatre, Clacton. We catch up with the cabaret temptress to talk about being an exhibitionist, sci-fi and overcoming body issues.
Are you a burlesque dancer because you’re a bit of a show off?
It is definitely the exhibitionist in me that enjoys it! I was always running around naked wearing body paint and dressing as someone out of the Rocky Horror Show as a child. Something in my personality I love dressing up and being looked at. Who doesn’t want to feel like the best version of themselves in feathers, diamonds and looking fabulous?
But you left university and worked as an underwriter for a while?
It was a great job, but I felt I had sold out a bit and the commute started to get to me. I was still doing burlesque shows in the evening and then working in the day, so I was too exhausted to do either job well.
Did your work know about your extracurricular activities?
Well, I have never been ashamed of being a burlesque dancer, but there was part of me that wanted to keep it private and I only told a few close friends.
Was it scary leaving a well-paid job to perform full-time?
Yes! My parents are supportive, but even they were thinking “what is she doing?”
To me it made sense. I was heading towards my thirties and decided it was now or never to do it full- time. Do people have the wrong idea about burlesque? Is it just glorified stripping?
Well, it is stripping in that the tradition derives from the same time and evolved, but it is very different to lap dancing. Burlesque is French for parody and originally it was poking fun at upper classes who were uptight.
Do you have any body hang ups?
God yeah. I have had my share of body insecurities. You might not imagine it seeing as I get undressed for a living! I used to be critical of my looks and tried to conform to what a perfect woman is. I would exercise up five times a week on top of all of the shows and got really tiny. That was three years ago and now I am a content size ten.
Are you more confident as Betsie Bonbon?
My character is my alter ego and definitely gives me confidence. It is me, but all the extremes of me.
What are you scared of?
I’m scared of mice. I think because I have lived in a lot of places where there have been mice as a student and living in London. I’m the girl who jumps on the table shrieking!
Tell us something that would shock us?
I am a massive sci-fi geek really. I love all the Star Trek and Stargate series thanks to my mum. I have an act ‘pin up girl from outta space’ which is a nod to the sci-fi in me. n Bettsie was speaking to Louise Howeson.
Tickets for the Princes Theatre show cost £20. Call the box office on 01255 686633 to book.
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