CELEBS Go Dating star Donna Preston has revealed she met a man who swept her off her feet shortly after wrapping the E4 reality show.
The actress and comedian, 39, was a late addition to the programme and was unable to find Mr Right in her three weeks of filming.
5 Donna Preston hit it off with a mystery man in MarbellaCredit: Channel4
5 The actress struck up a romance in Marbella after filming Celebs Go Dating
But little did she know at the series’ glitzy wrap party that romance was lurking just around the corner.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun ahead of the release of psychological horror-thriller The Nice Ones, Donna opened up about finding a true gentleman.
She said: “It was such a laugh. I didn’t meet anyone on the show, but afterwards I ended up meeting a man in Marbella. At first, I thought I’d bagged a billionaire — but no, he’s just the most chivalrous man I’ve ever met.
“And honestly, it’s not about yachts or champagne. For me, it’s the
little things: watching the sunset on the beach, those perfect quiet
moments together.”
Earlier in the year, Donna proved a hit on Celebrity Big Brother, forming a close friendship with Drag Race star Danny Beard.
Though she didn’t win – that honour went to Corrie’s Jack P Shepherd – she came away with a bigger fanbase and lots of memories.
The show has a history of being make or break for some famous faces, but Donna never felt the reality show would jeopardise her successful acting career, which includes credits in Netflix’s Sandman and Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
“I don’t really see them as opposing worlds,” she said. “For me, it’s all
storytelling — whether it’s drama, comedy, or reality TV.
“Audiences are smart; they know people can wear different hats. I actually love the freedom of being able to show different sides of myself: the actor, the comedian, and the woman just being human on reality shows. In many ways, they all feed into one another.”
Fans of Big Brother might even see more of Donna on spin-off show Late & Live when the 25th anniversary edition of the franchise kicks off later this month.
Donna Preston on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show
She teased: “I couldn’t give away spoilers even if I had them! But Big
Brother always finds a way to surprise us, doesn’t it?
“As for Late & Live… maybe, maybe not. Depends if I’m washing my hair! I had such a fab time on the show, so it would be lovely to pop back and relive a little of that madness — but from the comfort of the sofa this time.”
Multi-talented Donna quickly returned to her acting career after CBB, landing the cameo role of Martha in The Nice Ones.
Packed full of twists, the film sees Kate [Joelle Rae] and Dale’s [Emrhys Cooper] stay with friends at a stunning AirBnB property in the countryside take a sinister turn.
The initial good vibes are replaced by a sense of terror and dread after Kate spots strange lights in the night sky which pose an otherworldly threat. Not only that, but it forces Kate delve into an uncomfortable past.
The project saw Donna reunite with director Peter Stylianou and producer Tony Currier.
She said: “We hadn’t seen each other for years, but stepping on set with Peter and Tony honestly felt like no time had passed since Who Needs Enemies back in 2013.
“I played a Hungarian wife in that film, which meant learning a whole new language — a real challenge but so much fun! I’ve loved keeping in touch with them ever since.
5 Donna starred on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this yearCredit: ITV
5 The Nice Ones stars Joelle Rae and Emrhys CooperCredit: PR/The Nice Ones
“They’re both incredibly talented, passionate, and genuinely wonderful people who always take care of those around them.
“In The Nice Ones I play Martha, and being back on set with them was such a treat. I can’t wait to see what they create next — and I’m sure we’ll work together again very soon.”
The impressive cast includes The Witcher’s Joelle Rae and Nosferatu star Emrhys Cooper, who also played Coronation Street villain Rowan Cunliffe last year.
They’re joined by Ghostbusters’ Ian Whyte and How to Kill Monsters’ Ayvianna Snow among others.
And the on-screen tension will be palpable when viewers finally get to see the film as even the cast weren’t sure what was real or fiction at times.
Donna explained: “There were definitely moments when we weren’t sure what was scripted and what wasn’t, which kept us on edge in the best possible
way.
“That blurring of performance and reality gave the whole film an
extra charge.”
