Eleanor Fazan"What decided you to become a director?" the Queen asked Eleanor Fazan, at the production of Grab me a Gondola at Windsor. "Well, when I was pregnant I put on so much weight that no one would employ me as a dancer," replied Fiz. Her Majesty burst outlaughing.

Eleanor Fazan - known in the profession as "Fiz" - has covered the ground. Born in Kenya, as a teenager she came to London to train as a dancer at Sadlers Wells, and her career since then has taken her all over the world. It spans the decades and the disciplines too. As dancer, director, and choreographer, she has worked on stage and in film, television, and opera. Her shows in the West End included the hits Grab Me a Gondola, Blitz! and Beyond the Fringe; her film credits Tom Jones, Cold Comfort Farm, and Mrs Henderson Presents: her work in opera Salomé, the Ring cycle, and Otello (starring Placido Domingo).

Married to the composer Stanley Myers, her friendships and professional collaborations among dancers, actors, divas, and directors have given her a deep understanding of the artist at work. In 2013 Eleanor was awarded the O.B.E. for her services to dance. Read More Read Less