Francesca Hayward
{{short description|English ballet dancer and actress (born 1992)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox dancer
| name = Francesca Hayward
| image = Francesca Hayward.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Hayward in 2020
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|7|4|df=y}}
| birth_place = Nairobi, Kenya
| residence =
| nationality = British
| citizenship =
| education = Royal Ballet School
| occupation = Ballet dancer, actress
| years_active =
| height = 5 ft 2 in
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| website =
| current_group = The Royal Ballet
| former_groups =
| dances =
| module =
}}
Francesca Hayward (born 4 July 1992) is a Kenyan-born British ballet dancer and actress. She is a principal dancer in the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden in London. In 2019, she starred as Victoria the White Cat in the musical film Cats, an adaptation of the stage musical of the same name.
Early life
Hayward was born in July 1992 in Nairobi, Kenya, the daughter of an English father and a Kenyan mother. At the age of two, she moved to the Goring-by-Sea suburb of Worthing in West Sussex to live with her grandparents.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/oct/19/francesca-hayward-next-great-ballerina|title=Francesca Hayward: the next great British ballerina?|first=Judith|last=Mackrell|date=19 October 2014|newspaper=The Guardian}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sussexlife.co.uk/people/francesca-hayward-on-her-journey-from-a-recital-at-worthing-pavilion-to-the-royal-ballet-1-5039709|publisher=Sussex Life|title=Francesca Hayward on her journey from a recital at Worthing Pavilion to the Royal Ballet|first=Nione|last=Meakin|date=29 July 2019|accessdate=11 March 2020}} She started ballet at age 3, after her grandparents bought her a video of The Nutcracker.{{cite news|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/francesca-hayward-cats-2641247854.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1|title=Francesca Hayward Steps Into Hollywood's Spotlight|work=Dance Magazine|last=Winship|first=Lyndsey|date=11 November 2019}} When she was young, she danced at Le Serve School of Ballet and Theatre Dance in Worthing until her teacher encouraged her to audition to White Lodge, the junior section of the Royal Ballet School.{{cite web|url=http://www.roh.org.uk/people/francesca-hayward|title=Francesca Hayward — People — Royal Opera House|website=Royal Opera House|accessdate=25 June 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513071810/http://www.roh.org.uk/people/francesca-hayward|archive-date=13 May 2020}}{{cite news|last=Winship|first=Lindsey|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/francesca-hayward-a-sugar-plum-life-a3213211.html|title=Francesca Hayward, interview: 'I just want always to move people. If someone cries, that's brilliant'|date=29 March 2016|newspaper=Evening Standard|accessdate=18 August 2016}} After being a Junior Associate from the age of nine, she entered the School at the age of 11 in 2003, and progressed to the Royal Ballet Upper School in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.balletassociation.co.uk/Reports/2014/Hayward14.html/|title=The Ballet Association|website=www.balletassociation.co.uk|access-date=26 February 2018|archive-date=7 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407210002/http://balletassociation.co.uk/Reports/2014/Hayward14.html|url-status=dead}} According to Hayward, due to an injury, she did not officially graduate, but received a certificate of attendance.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/francesca-hayward-criticism-of-cats-never-upset-me-the-performers-all-share-a-sense-of-humour-about-it|title=Francesca Hayward: 'Criticism of Cats never upset me, the performers all share a sense of humour about it'|work=The Stage|last=Norman|first=Neil|date=2 March 2020}}
Career
During her training, Hayward was recognised as an exceptionally gifted dancer and after joining the Royal Ballet in 2010, was increasingly cast in more prominent roles during major productions.{{cite magazine|last=Cappelle|first=Laura|url=http://www.pointemagazine.com/francesca-hayward-the-royal-ballet-2412851665.html/|title=Francesca Hayward: The Royal Ballet's Next Crown Jewel|date=29 January 2016|magazine=Pointe}}{{cite news|last=Pearce|first=Lucy|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/14141479.worthing-ballerina-francesca-hayward-as-clara-in-the-nutcracker/|title=Worthing ballerina Francesca Hayward as Clara in The Nutcracker|newspaper=The Argus|date=12 December 2015}}{{cite magazine|last=Kavanagh|first=Julie|url=https://www.1843magazine.com/content/arts/anonymous/firefly-among-moths/|title=A firefly among moths|date=10 December 2013|magazine=1843|issue=January/February 2014}} She was promoted to First Artist in 2013, Soloist in 2014, First Soloist in 2015 and Principal in 2016. Hayward's talent and technique have received critical praise and acclaim.{{cite news|last=Pithers|first=Ellie|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/dance/what-to-see/Francesca-Hayward-royal-ballet-as-Juliet/|title=Francesca Hayward: meet the Royal Ballet's diminutive star-in-waiting|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=12 September 2015|access-date=26 July 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gramilano.com/2018/02/interview-royal-ballets-hot-couple-francesca-hayward/|title=Interview with The Royal Ballet's hot couple: Francesca Hayward and Alexander Campbell|website=www.gramilano.com|date=16 February 2018}}
In 2012, Hayward danced a pas de deux from The Flower Festival in Genzano with fellow Royal Ballet dancer James Hay at the Erik Bruhn Competition in Canada. She danced Clara for the first time in The Nutcracker at Covent Garden in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.rohcollections.org.uk/performance.aspx?performance=27959&row=236/ |title=Ballet: Performance details |publisher=Rohcollections.org.uk |date=27 December 2012 |accessdate=20 September 2018}}
Hayward was featured in the BBC documentary film Dancing the Nutcracker: Inside the Royal Ballet,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b086kdzl|title=BBC Two - Dancing the Nutcracker - Inside the Royal Ballet|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=26 July 2019}} Her performance as Clara in Sir Peter Wright's production of The Nutcracker and in Woolf Works was recorded for DVD by Opus Arte,{{cite web|url=https://www.opusarte.com/details/OA1252D|title=Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (The Royal Ballet)
|work=Opus Arte|accessdate=25 June 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.opusarte.com/details/OABD7247D|title=McGregor / Richter: Woolf Works (The Royal Ballet)|work=Opus Arte|accessdate=25 June 2020}} and the latter was also broadcast on BBC.{{cite web|url=https://www.roh.org.uk/news/the-royal-ballets-woolf-works-to-be-broadcast-on-bbc-four|title=The Royal Ballet's Woolf Works to be broadcast on BBC Four|date=5 July 2017|website=Royal Opera House|access-date=26 July 2019}}
In November 2018, Hayward joined the cast of Cats. She played the role of Victoria in the film directed by Tom Hooper, as well as singing the song "Beautiful Ghosts" written by Taylor Swift and Andrew Lloyd Webber.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-46070976|title=Miaow! Royal Ballet star Francesca Hayward joins Cats movie|date=2 November 2018|work=BBC News}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/andrew-lloyd-webber-talks-working-taylor-swift-new-cats-song-1249724|title=Andrew Lloyd Webber Talks Working With Taylor Swift on New 'Cats' Song|last=Vlessing|first=Etan|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=24 October 2019|accessdate=25 October 2019}} To allow her participation, Hayward took a temporary leave of absence from The Royal Ballet until the conclusion of filming.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/royal-ballet-francesca-hayward-cats-movie-1203018292/|title=Film News Roundup: Royal Ballet's Francesca Hayward Joins 'Cats' Movie|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=2 November 2018|work=Variety}}{{cite web|url=https://www.roh.org.uk/news/royal-ballet-principal-francesca-hayward-leads-the-cast-of-cats|title=Royal Ballet Principals Francesca Hayward and Steven McRae to star in Cats|last=Spencer|first=Mel|date=10 January 2018|website=Royal Opera House}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/francesca-hayward-cats-steven-mcrae-2617432937.html|title=UPDATED: Two of Our Fave Royal Ballet Principals Just Got Tapped for Roles in the CATS Movie!|last=Escoyne|first=Courtney|date=2 November 2018|magazine=Dance Magazine}} She returned to performing with The Royal Ballet in May 2019, dancing alongside Cesar Corrales in his ROH debut in Romeo and Juliet.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/529137a6-7d4e-11e9-8b5c-33d0560f039c|title=Romeo and Juliet — stars at their peak in Kenneth MacMillan's ballet|date=23 May 2019|newspaper=The Financial Times|access-date=26 July 2019|url-access=subscription}}
In 2020, Hayward's debut as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/dance/ballet/splendid-isolation-francesca-hayward-fell-ballet-practice/|title=My Splendid Isolation: Francesca Hayward – 'I fell over doing ballet practice on my wonky kitchen floor'|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=2 April 2020}} She participated in Misty Copeland's fundraiser, Swans for Relief, by dancing The Swan, in light of the pandemic's impact on the dance community. The fund will go to participating dancers' companies and other related relief funds.{{cite news|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/ballet-dancer-relief-fund-2645933643.html|title=32 Ballerinas From Around the World Perform "The Dying Swan" for COVID-19 Relief|work=Dance Magazine|date=6 May 2020}} In Royal Opera House's first performance since the lockdown, which was live-streamed on YouTube, Hayward danced a new piece choreographed by Wayne McGregor alongside Corrales.{{cite news|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/sensual-and-silky-the-royal-ballet-returns-to-covent-garden|title=Sensual and silky: the Royal Ballet returns to Covent Garden|work=The Spectator|last=Veale|first=Sara}} That year also saw the release of Audrey, a documentary film about the life of British actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn in which Hayward played Audrey during her Hollywood years in danced-based "portraits" of Hepburn through her and fellow ballerinas Keira Moore and Alessandra Ferri.
Hayward performed at the Coronation Concert in 2023, to mark the coronation of Charles III and Camilla.{{cite web |title=Stars including Take That and Kermit the Frog put on a night to remember at spectacular Coronation Concert |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/bbcstudios/2023/stars-including-take-that-and-kermit-the-frog-put-on-a-night-to-remember-at-spectacular-coronation-concert |website=BBC Media Centre |access-date=9 May 2023 |date=7 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=The Royal Opera House celebrates the Coronation of King Charles III |url=https://www.roh.org.uk/news/the-royal-opera-house-celebrates-the-coronation |website=Royal Opera House |access-date=9 May 2023 |date=5 May 2023}}
Personal life
As of 2016, Hayward was living in Stoke Newington in North London.
Repertoire
Hayward has also danced as Princess Florine The Sleeping Beauty, Rose Fairy in The Nutcracker, and roles in Infra, Ballo della Regina, Symphony in C, and Within the Golden Hour, and in Robert Binet's immersive work, The Dreamers Ever Leave You (in collaboration with the National Ballet of Canada).
=Created roles=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Ballet
!Choreographer !Date and Reference |
|---|
| Woolf Works |
| Multiverse
|Wayne McGregor |
| Morgen
|Wayne McGregor |
| Like Water for Chocolate |
Filmography
Awards and honours
{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}
As a student at The Royal Ballet School, Hayward won the 2009 Lynn Seymour Award for Expressive Dance and the 2010 Young British Dancer of the Year Award. She was also awarded the silver medal and Audience Choice Award at the 2010 Genee International Ballet Competition.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.pointemagazine.com/2010-genee-results-2412799254.html|title=2010 Genee Results|date=30 November 2001|magazine=Pointe|last=Stahl|first=Jennifer|language=en|access-date=26 July 2019}} Hayward won the Best Emerging Artist in 2014 and the Grishko Award for Best Female Dancer in 2016 at the Critics Circle National Dance Awards.{{cite web|url=https://dancetabs.com/2017/02/2016-national-dance-awards-winners-announced/|title=2016 National Dance Awards – Winners Announced|date=6 February 2017|website=DanceTabs.com|language=en-US|access-date=26 July 2019}}
She was one of fifteen women selected to appear on the cover of the September 2019 issue of British Vogue, by guest editor Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.{{cite news|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/francesca-hayward-cats-meghan-markle|title=Francesca Hayward on Cats, Living Without Regrets, and Getting a Phone Call From Meghan Markle |work=Glamour|last=Singer|first=Jenny|date=19 December 2019}}
In 2020, Hayward was recognised as one of the United Kingdom's most influential people of African or African Caribbean heritage by being included in the 2021 edition of the annual Powerlist.{{cite news |last1=Lavender |first1=Jane |title=Lewis Hamilton ends incredible year top of influential Black Powerlist 2021 |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/black-power-list-2021-lewis-23017308 |access-date=19 January 2021 |work=mirror |date=17 November 2020 |language=en}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|8667557}}
- [http://www.roh.org.uk/people/francesca-hayward Royal Opera House profile]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUyGK945itA Francesca Hayward and Cesar Corrales in Morgen]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hayward, Francesca}}
Category:Actors educated at the Royal Ballet School
Category:21st-century British ballet dancers
Category:21st-century English actresses
Category:English female dancers
Category:English people of Kenyan descent
Category:Kenyan emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:Actresses from Worthing
Category:British prima ballerinas
Category:Principal dancers of The Royal Ballet
Category:English film actresses
Category:Actors from the London Borough of Hackney