With her effortlessly graceful body and perfect Renaissance face, Tamara Rojo is taking British ballet by storm. Hailed as “technically brilliant” with an “emotional depth rare in British theatre”, the 26-year-old’s performance as Tatiana in Onegin is even being compared to that of ballet’s best-loved prima ballerina, Margot Fonteyn.

It is an honour the Spanish star will fully appreciate. As far as she is concerned, being compared with Margot Fonteyn is “a war you lose”. Not, apparently, any more.

Tamara well deserves the rave reviews she is currently receiving in her adopted country. Born in Montreal and raised in Madrid, she began dancing at the tender age of five. At 16, Tamara graduated from the conservatory and joined Ullate’s dance company, the Ballet de la Comunidad de Madrid. In 1994 she entered an international competition in Paris and danced off with the Gold Medal and Grand Prix. She was later invited to dance with the Scottish ballet in Glasgow and, in 1997, moved to the English National Ballet as a soloist. After a mere six months there, she was promoted to principal.

To read Tamara Rojo’s interview and to see photos of the beautiful young ballerina check out this week’s HELLO! magazine, on sale now.