If the name Francesca Hayward sounds familiar, it’s probably because she played the lead role of Victoria in the live-action Cats movie. Still, apart from her scene-stealing dance moves, we’re not super familiar with the 28-year-old dancer.
So, who is Francesca Hayward? Here’s everything you need to know.
She’s a principal ballerina at The Royal Ballet, though she took a sabbatical in 2018 to pursue acting. Hayward trained at the Royal Ballet School, where she appeared in a number of productions, including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Giselle.
Hayward’s parents put her in dance lessons after she watched (and fell in love with) a video of The Nutcracker when she was 2 years old. Fun fact: She went on to play the Sugar Plum Fairy, followed by Clara, in the production.
Hayward recently started dabbling in acting. She appeared in The Sun Is God and Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words before landing the lead role of Victoria in Cats. Although the film itself didn’t receive the kindest reviews, at least we know her name now.
Although she doesn’t have an official Facebook or Twitter page, Hayward has a verified Instagram account (@frankiegoestohayward), where she regularly documents her dancing adventures. She currently has 100,000 (and counting) followers, though that number seems to be rising at an exponential rate.
