Marianela Núñez, the Royal Ballet's Argentine-born principal dancer, is preparing to headline her own show, Timeless, at the Royal Opera House – a rare career milestone she is only reaching now, aged 44, after 28 years with the company. Known in Argentina as "the Messi of ballet" for her extraordinary skill and evident joy in performing, Núñez has remained a leading figure in British dance for decades, and this show marks a significant personal and professional moment as she finally takes centre stage under her own name.

Núñez moved from Buenos Aires to England at 15 and became a principal dancer at 20, having performed leading roles at Teatro Colón by the age of 14. Unlike many top dancers, she has no agent or personal PR, which she says explains why the solo show has taken so long to materialise; she cites the example of Sylvie Guillem, who also worked without an agent. She now has five days at the Royal Opera House with the orchestra and free choice of repertoire, describing the wait as ultimately "the perfect way" for it to happen. Núñez remains fiercely proud of her Argentine roots, from an Argentina-inspired leotard to naming her cat after Lionel Messi.