Kristen McNally

Kristen McNally is a British Principal Character Artist of The Royal Ballet, promoted to that rank in 2017 following fifteen years with the company. Born in Liverpool, she trained at The Royal Ballet Upper School, joining the company in 2002.

McNally is one of the company's most distinctive artists — a consummate character performer and a prolific choreographer. She created roles in Christopher Wheeldon's Like Water for Chocolate (Nacha) and Strapless (Thérèse Pozzi), and has performed Carabosse, Empress Elisabeth in Mayerling, and the Tsarina in Anastasia. As a choreographer she has made numerous works for the Royal Ballet's Draft Works programme and for companies including New English Ballet Theatre and BalletBoyz.