Jason Donovan hopes his turn on Strictly Come Dancing will lead to more "gritty" roles on television.
But the former Neighbours actor admits he will have to relax more if he is to do well on the show.
He told TV Times: "My biggest problem is relaxing and learning how to smile.
"I have an intensity on my face like the world's about to end and that's probably not the image people want on a Saturday night."
The 43-year-old, who first found fame as Scott Robinson in the Australian soap, has starred in a string of hit musicals in the West End, including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
He said he hoped his appearance on the hit BBC One ballroom show would raise his profile, adding: "I'd love to do more television drama and I think I'm capable of something gritty. I don't know whether dancing the cha-cha is necessarily going to lead to a role in Spooks, though."
Donovan is paired with Kristina Rihanoff in the new series of the show and viewers will see the pair make their ballroom debut this weekend.