Who Is Julianne Hough? Fun Facts About the 'DWTS' Professional Dancer

She may be known for her cha-cha on Dancing With the Stars, but Julianne Hough is a true triple threat. The entertainer has also made audiences fall in love with her by acting in 2013’s Safe Heaven and playing Sandy in the live Fox TV production of Grease.

“I’ve had overflowing love and support from everyone, including Olivia Newton-John. I met her, and she was like, ‘Oh, you’re a perfect Sandy!’ That took some weight off my shoulders a little bit,” the actress previously told Variety about reprising the singer’s role on stage. “I think there are different kinds of performers, and I’m the kind who thrives off the adrenaline and the pressure that something could go wrong.”

Julianne’s fearlessness on Grease Live! helped her win an MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Musical Moment in 2017. Even though that was a big milestone in her career, she already had an Emmy sitting at home for Outstanding Choreography for DWTS.

Now, she’s working on new projects, but none of this would have been possible if she never made her acting debut alongside Christina Aguilera and Cher in 2010’s Burlesque. “She was wonderful,” Julianne told Collider about working with the “If I Could Turn Back Time” singer. “I was definitely intimidated like most people would be. But she was just so down to earth. She really makes people feel so comfortable.”

After Burlesque, Julianne went on to star in 2011’s Footloose as Ariel, but she explained she was “attached” to that project before she even took on Burlesque. “It was just an ongoing thing. I was glad it happened the way it did because I got to do Burlesque first, which really helped prepare me for Footloose,” she said. “I had a small, supporting role in this film and I got to ease my way into it, learn the logistics of filmmaking and that world, and have fun and take it all in.”

In honor of Julianne’s amazing career, scroll below to check out five fun facts you might not know about our favorite dancing queen.

She’s Been Dancing (Nearly) Forever

Killer dancing skills must run in the family considering all four of Julianne’s grandparents were dancers. In fact, the blonde beauty — who is the youngest of five kids raised in Orem, Utah — began showing interest in the form of art at a very young age.

She started formal Latin ballroom lessons at the Center Stage Performing Arts Studio in her hometown and began dancing competitively when she was just 9. At the age of 10, Julianne and her older brother, Derek Hough, were sent to London where they lived and studied with their dance coaches, Corky Ballas and Shirley Ballas, as well as their son, Mark Ballas.

Like her older brother, Julianne went on to attend the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, where she received training in song, theatre, gymnastics and many forms of dance, including jazz, ballet and tap. She returned to Utah at age 15, graduated high school and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams. The rest is pretty much history!

Julianne Is a World Latin Dance Champion

At the young age of 15, Julianne was not only winning dance competitions, but she was also making history. The Dirty Grandpa star became the youngest — and only American — dancer to win both Junior World Latin Champion and International Latin Youth Champion at the Blackpool Dance Festival, according to Entity magazine.

She’s a Great Actress

Julianne has come a very long way since her first acting credit. The Primetime Emmy nominee may have starred in hit blockbusters, but you might be shocked to find out her first role was in 2001’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Julianne was credited for her role as a “Hogwarts schoolgirl.”

Since then, she’s starred in 2011’s Footloose, joined the superstar cast of 2012’s Rock of Ages, acted opposite Josh Duhamel in 2013’s Safe Haven and many more. She also played Jolene in the TV series Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings.

Julianne Is a 2-Time ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Champion

Julianne first joined the cast of Dancing With The Stars for season 4 in 2007. The America’s Got Talent host came right out the gate with a win after taking home the mirrorball trophy with Olympic gold medal-winning speed skater Apolo Ohno. This accomplishment crowned Julianne as the youngest professional dancer to win on the program. She was 19-years-old at the time.

She came back just as strong for season 5. Julianne, who was paired with three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Hélio Castroneves, took home the gold for the second season in a row after the pair danced their way to the finale. Their dance moves were so impressive, Julianne was nominated for an “Outstanding Choreography” Emmy Award for her Mambo “Para Los Rumberos” performance with Hélio on the beloved show.

In 2008, Julianne told Ryan Seacrest she would no longer be a part of the DWTS cast. However, she did return as a dancer in season 8 and then as the show’s fourth judge in 2014 before leaving again in 2017.

She’s a Country Music Artist

Julianne is also a music artist! The award-winning star released her first country music single titled “Will You Dance With Me” in May 2007. The song was released to iTunes and Walmart in hopes to raise money for the American Red Cross.

She later signed with Universal Music Group Nashville and her self-titled debut album was released in 2008. According to her IMDb bio, Julianne’s release marked “the highest debut for a country artist since 2006” after it hit the Billboard Country charts at No. 1 and entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3.

Even the dance guru’s first two singles, “That Song in My Head” and “My Hallelujah Song,” quickly climbed the country charts and earned her first two 2009 ACM Awards for Top New Female Vocalist and Top New Artist. So impressive!