Darcey Bussell

Dame Darcey Bussell is a famous English retired ballerina, author and television personality. She was born in 1969 in London and her father was an Australian businessman John Crittle and her mother was Andrea Williams. Her parents divorced when she was three, Bussell was adopted by her mother’s new husband Phillip Bussell. She went to the Arts Educational school, before joining the Royal Ballet School.
From the Royal Ballet School, Bussell joined Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet in 1987.

The choreographer Kenneth Macillan had noticed her outstanding technique and gave her a leading role. She moved to the Royal Ballet and at the age of just 20 was promoted to Principal Dancer after the premiere of The Prince of the Pagodas in which Bussell created the lead role of Princess Rose. Although she remained with the Royal Ballet, Bussell acted as a guest dancer for companies such as La Scala Theatre Ballet, Hamburg Ballet and the Australian Ballet. In 2007 she retired from ballet but later came out of retirement to dance the Spirit of the Flam at the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony, a famous moment in history for both Bussell and the country.

Bussell went on to follow a career in television; amongst many TV appearances she was a judge on the popular show Strictly Come Dancing from 2012 to 2018. She has been involved in writing books for children and adults and she has modelled for prestigious brands such as Bruce Oldfield and Mulberry, and been photographed for magazines like Vogue. She has won many awards throughout her career for both ballet and her media work. She married Angus Forbes in 1997 they have two daughters.