Daria Klimentová on her daily routine, growing up and her cat, Lucy Daria Klimentová, 41, joined the National Theatre Ballet Company in Prague in 1989 and a year later was promoted to principal dancer, aged 18. She joined the English National Ballet in 1996, where she is now the senior principal dancer. Last year she won Dancer of the Year at the Dance Critics Awards. Saturday 5 January is the last night of her performance in the ENB's Nutcracker and then she will perform in The Sleeping Beauty from January 9-13 (0871-911 0200; ballet.org.uk). Klimentová lives in west London with her mother, husband, Ian, and daughter, Sabina, 12. Bananas We couldn't buy fruit all year round, only at Christmas. I remember that Radek and I got a banana between us one Christmas and we cut it in two and fought over who got the bigger bit. But if you don't know anything else then you're not suffering. I think it's probably better than if you grow up with access to everything - like my daughter is now. I'm worried she will take it all for granted. Husband I met Ian in the theatre 16 years ago - he's a technician with the English National Ballet. He understands dancers, so it makes life easier. He comes on tour with us. We used to take Sabina when she was little. That was hard because I would dance all day and then she would cry all night. Non-stop dancing I danced till I was four and a half months pregnant, although I kept going to ballet classes. Six weeks after I gave birth I started dancing again and three months later I was back on stage. I danced better after I had Sabina. I felt extra-happy and didn't worry about work so much - I would just go on stage and dance and then come home. Sabina doesn't want to be a dancer; she says she doesn't want to practise as many hours as mummy. Pictures Photography is my hobby. I got into it before Sabina was born. I like taking pictures of my colleagues. I get inspired all the time so I keep my Nikon D700 [pictured below] with me all day. Photo: Andy Lo Po Books I never watch television but I read lots of books - I just finished a Czech book about building a cathedral in Knightsbridge in the 12th century. My favourite book is The Three Musketeers, which I've read over and over again. I prefer to read in Czech; if I read in English I don't get into it as quickly. Cat I always wanted a cat and about a year and a half ago I bought Lucy [main picture]; she's a British blue and I love her. She's very friendly and likes company. She eats by scooping up food with her paws. It's amazing, she looks like a human. Injuries When I entered my 30s, suddenly my body started to give up; I had three operations on both knees and an ankle operation. I was off for eight months and I really worried that I wouldn't dance again. Now I live from day to day. I don't know how long I'll keep dancing; if I can dance tomorrow I will. Rest I love my bed [pictured below]. I'm always tired because I dance all day so I love sleeping or even just being in bed - the best thing is to lie in bed reading on a Sunday afternoon, but that doesn't happen very often.