How old are you? Where were you born? Were your parents in the circus?
I was born March 22, 1977, in Torquay, England. When I was nine years old, my family moved to Germany, and I attended a circus school there. Both my parents were in the circus. So was my aunt, Sarah Rancy, who worked with tigers; I'm named after her. also have one sister, Kerin, six years younger than me. She is assisting our father, Sacha, in an animal presentation in the 133rd Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.
When did you first perform in the circus? What animals have you performed with?
I first performed when I was two years old. Really! I was in a clown act. My first performance with animals was when I was six: I sat on the elephants. When I was 11, I performed on a bactrain camel's back (they're the ones with two humps; a dromedary has one hump). As for other animals, I've performed with African buffaloes, rhinos, zebras, and many others. And, of course, I present tigers and elephants in the 132nd Edition of The Greatest Show On Earth.
 
When did you first perform with tigers? Were you scared?
The first tiger performance was June of 1999. I was really nervous, but as soon as I got in the cage, I forgot I was scared. When I walked out, my knees caved in! But now it just thrills me for those eight minutes I'm with my tiger friends, and then afterwards, I'm all chilled, all quiet.
The tigers really seem to like you. How does that happen?
They like me - and respect me - because I build a relationship with them. I just spend all my time with them, and do nothing else. I clean them, feed them, give them water, and stay with them to win their trust. Now I can go up to them and hug them and kiss them and feed them meat out of my hand and know that nothing bad will happen.
How does it feel to perform in front of an audience?
It feels wonderful. I love the emotions it brings to the families who come - especially the kids. Their faces light up, they clap, they whistle. It gives me an adrenaline boost and a nice warm feeling all at once.
What's that sound you and the tigers make?
You mean the "wuf wuf" sound? It's like a greeting, but it's more than that. It's part of our relationship, it's like talking to the tigers. Sometimes I know what they're thinking and feeling - okay, it sounds strange, but I'm sure of it.
What's it like being a star in The Greatest Show On Earth?
Besides the performance itself, being a circus star means I work with the media a lot. There's an interview pretty much every day - by phone, or live on TV or radio, or with a reporter for a newspaper or magazine. We visit about 45 cities a year, so that's a lot of interviews - and a lot of fun!

Click here for more of my favorite things.
What's it like to see yourself in the media?

It's cool, it's an awesome feeling. To pick up The New York Times or People magazine and see your picture in there? I'm like, "That's me!" I still can't get used to the situation.
How long does it take you to get ready for the show?
It takes one and a half hours to get ready for the show. While I'd prefer not to wear makeup in the ring, I know it's important for me and all the other performers to look our best. We all do whatever it takes to put on The Greatest Show On Earth.
Do you feel you're a role model?
Me? A role model? Hmmm. I hope so. Not so much for myself, but for the way I relate to animals. I think children, especially, are impressed by the nurturing relationship I have with the animals, and perhaps go home with greater respect for animals. I get a lot of fan mail. I just got a letter from a mom who said that I made such an impression on her child, she'd like to hug me. It's lovely to get letters like that.

Do you have any pets?
I have a dog as a pet, and I'll tell you a secret: He doesn't listen to me! It's quite embarrassing, actually. I don't train him, I just spoil him. Like when I went and got him tiger bowls to eat from, a tiger stuffed toy that squeaks, and a tiger leash for his walks.
Can you really tell the tigers apart from one another?
I sure can. Besides their unique appearances, they all have different personalities. Assam, he's the goofy one of the bunch. Gandhi is the intelligent one, very tricky; he knows exactly when you're watching him. Tora is a real smoothie. Jaipur, he's very lazy - he always looks like he's sleeping. Vanya is a little spooky, nervous around new things, while Apollo is always ready to learn something new. And Tibet, who always wants to do everything his way.
What's the one thing that someone who hasn't seen you perform with the tigers should look for?
There's more than one thing to look for! We all work hard to keep The Greatest Show On Earth fresh every year. As for my performance, what I hope comes across is the relationship between me and the tigers. How I can approach them, and touch them, and snuggle with them, even though they are wild animals. And of course the beauty of the tigers, too.