Quotes from Francesca Hayward

My dad was teaching in Kenya, and my grandparents came to visit me there. They brought me to England, and my dad continued to teach for a bit after, so I just continued to live with my grandparents, because that became home, really.

I had to learn about how to use my voice as an instrument, like a muscle in my body when I dance. I had no idea how much you could do with your voice and how much you have to look after it.

I sew my own shoes - I don't trust anyone else to sew the ribbons exactly how I like them.

The force for change I represent is of course from being a mixed-race ballerina.

Manon' still feels like it didn't really happen, because it is such a mammoth ballet and I can't believe I did that.

I've always just done ballet, and I feel like I'm sort of living the dream.

At aged eleven, you're learning taking criticism every day and making it a positive thing - otherwise you will never make it in ballet.

It's very British of me, but I'll always choose beer over anything else.

I was a waitress at a local pub. I was really bad with money and it taught me the value of it as I was on minimum wage.

Dancewear is very different from sportswear. Sportswear doesn't quite suit what we need to do with our bodies, so I'm always fiddling with my clothes in the studio.

When I found out that I was going be Juliet, it felt much more real than 'Manon,' because 'Manon' is one of those ballets that you probably do after Juliet, so that never really sunk in to be honest.

I'm rubbish at maths but I would like to have been a pilot.

My favorite leisurewear brands are Lululemon and Nike. They feel like a second skin, they never restrict my movements, and they keep me cool and warm.

It took me a while to process myself as a cat - it's not something you see every day.

I remember being asked for the first time about my race, and it really took me by surprise, just that it was a point that needed to be raised - and then I quickly realised that it was a point that everyone wanted to talk about!

It's just very surreal for someone who doesn't sing in public to suddenly be singing with Jennifer Hudson.

When I'm performing I just want to tell the audience something. I want every person watching to walk away feeling something.

I didn't expect to be so tired sometimes on stage. There are moments when you're so tired you could pretty much collapse.

When I was a wee baby, if I heard any music, I would just get up in my buggy or my pram and start bobbing around.

There was never really a moment that I decided that I wanted to be a ballet dancer. It's always just felt like it's what I was meant to do.

I always enjoy ballet when you can read the situation very precisely, when I could tell you exactly which sentence that person is saying to that person even when they're not speaking and just moving their hand.

I'm very proud of the colour of my skin and that I'm inspiring people from all backgrounds, but I think it will be great for the next mixed-race or black female principal dancer if she doesn't have to be asked about that.

Obviously I would never have agreed to be a part of something that would change the colour of my skin had I been playing a human. The bottom line is, I'm playing a cat. There is no more discussion. I am a cat that's white, let's not read into it.

I've always been distracted by shopping and when I'm not dancing, I'm probably shopping.