Born in London, Darcey Bussell was a late starter to ballet at the age of thirteen and studied at the Royal Ballet School. In 1986 she won the Prix de Lausanne. Then in 1987 she joined Salders Wells Royal Ballet, where in 1988, at the age of nineteen, she was recognized by MacMillan and then joined the Royal Ballet as a soloist. On her opening night in The Prince of the Pagodas playing the part of Rose, she made history as the Royal Ballet's youngest ever principal. In 1990 she received the Evening Standard Ballet Award and the Variety Club Award for Most Promising Newcomer. In 1995 she was awarded an OBE