CULTURE
The actress reveals how her children inspired her to write a story telling kids it’s okay to be different — and her daughter is the book’s biggest fan
Gemma Atkinson has always danced to the beat of her own drum. Never one to bow to the pressure to put her “perfect” self on social media or “snap back” after having children, the actress and radio presenter has made a point of being refreshingly honest.
And now the 39-year-old, who shares daughter Mia, four, and son Thiago, six months, with her fiancé, Strictly Come Dancing star Gorka Márquez, wants to spread the message that it’s okay to be different. To that end, she has written a children’s book called Dogs Don’t Dance,, which encourages young readers to find their own way in the world.
Talking exclusively to hello!, Gemma reveals she was inspired by her childrens’ personalities. “Mia and Thiago may be brother and sister, but they’re different,” she says. “I wanted to write a story saying that you can be different and it doesn’t matter. It’s about encouraging children to try new things.”
She has adopted that attitude when it comes to parenting, citing her experiences on Strictly – where she met professional dancer Gorka, 33 – in 2017.
Dogs Don’t Dance tells the tale of two pooches, one of whom likes dancing, much to the dismay of his fellow canines. Gemma’s words, illustrated by Lisa Hunt, emphasise friendship, resilience and being true to oneself.
The main characters were inspired by her own dogs, Norman and Ollie. “They were sitting at my feet while I was writing, so it was a really nice process,” she says. The book also includes some simple dance routines for readers to try themselves at home. “There’s one called the Dust and Slide and Mia was doing it over Christmas,” she recalls. “I asked Gorka: ‘Would you be able to do these on Strictly?’ and he was like: ‘No, I don’t think so!’ But he did approve of them.”
And Gemma loves the idea of bringing the book to life for Mia at bedtime. “She is obsessed with books. I don’t think there’s anything better for children than reading, so the thought of reading my own story to her was lovely.”
TWO’S COMPANY
Six months since she and Gorka welcomed their second child, Gemma says that Thiago has slotted in well.
