Quotes from Darcey Bussell

Dancing has always been a passion for me, one that I will probably never be rid of.

Now I'm on television, I'm far more conscious of my skin than I used to be - I would often leave the theatre with layers of pancake make-up still on my face, but on a medium such as TV, I have to be more fastidious.

As long as everything is happy at home, I can be totally selfish at work.

I don't get much sleep, so I have really bad bags under my eyes.

Everything is not beautiful at the ballet. It's tough.

I always knew I was a bit different from my friends, had too much energy, and suddenly I could get it all out with ballet.

A teacher's not going to bother being tough on you for no reason; it's when they're not paying you attention that you should worry.

This perception that we can be stars without any work and just appear is rubbish.

On Boxing Day, we always go for a walk in our wellies with the dogs, no matter where we are.

I need help to ensure I grow old gracefully! So now I always apply moisturiser and foundation with an SPF, to protect my skin from the sun.

I wore myself out physically and mentally over my career, and I couldn't be there for my daughters in ways I should have been.

The best thing is to lie in a warm Epsom salts bath for 15 minutes and then go straight to bed. You will sleep really well afterwards.

I love chocolate, but it's bad.

The orthopaedic surgeon said that if ever I had hip or groin pain, I should rest until the pain went. However, resting is not part of a dancer's life - so I just danced through the pain.

We only open a couple of presents on Christmas morning we're all about the stockings - we even get them for the dogs!

Being a mother has made my life complete.

As a little girl, I didn't dream of being a ballet dancer; I dreamt of being a movie star like Ginger Rogers and dancing with Fred Astaire. I used to watch the Sunday double-bills on TV and Iong to be part of what seemed a perfect Disneyland world. Astaire was a genius.

Looking after myself is something I probably have to be much more conscious of than the average person.

I do feel blessed to have small ears - I've never felt self-conscious when my hair is swept back. My feet are a different story - I grew up being painfully aware of them because they are so long.

I am damn good with money.

I did ballet from the age of five, but what I loved was my gymnastics. I kept the ballet going because of the gymnastics, then found I was going to be too tall.

It's very easy to become selfish and narrow-minded and see ballet as the only thing in life, but there's lots more.

I'm a size 8-10. I never weigh myself - I go on how tight my jeans are.

I had once been told my ability to read would only reach that of a ten-year-old, but I was determined to achieve more.