Actress legs it to star as Fonteyn.

ACTRESS Anne-Marie Duff needed strapping leg doubles in her new telly role as ballet legend Dame Margot Fonteyn.

The former Shameless star had to endure a brutal training regime to get in shape for BBC Four drama Margot, which will be screened later this month.

But the 39-year-old wife of Scots heart-throb James McAvoy confessed that, despite intensive training, well-toned extras were drafted in for several scenes.

Anne-Marie said: "Before we began filming, I worked very hard for a week solid on pilates.

"Then I worked with the Royal Ballet dancers for about six weeks. It was punishing and I felt like a fool every day.

"But I was trained by very well-respected dancers and filmmakers. They worked me really, really hard, every day.

"Obviously, we had to have doubles as there's no way your legs can look like they've had 20 years of dance training, it's impossible in six weeks."

Margot aims to explore the complex relationship between Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev.

Anne-Marie was set to star alongside her hubby, but he turned down the chance to play Nureyev and the role went to Dutch actor Michiel Huisman.

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Tough:Anne-Marie