Children in their 20s may have fond memories of watching "Teletubbies," and the Sun Baby, Jess Smith, featured in every episode of the popular children's show. Over 20 years later, Smith is all grown up, and the series is set to get a reboot on Netflix.
Smith was the giggling Sun Baby who didn't pursue a TV career and did not reveal her identity until recently. According to LadBible, Smith posted on Instagram to confess her secret and said that she used to hide the fact that she was the smiling baby in the popular children's series.
The young woman said she had a lot of encouragement from her friends at the university, so she decided to out herself. Smith said that she was cast in the role after a producer saw her getting weighed at the hospital. The producer asked the staff for any "smiley babies" and then spotted her.
Her father was in the studio when they filmed her sequence. Smith recalled that he held a teddy bear and showed a racing car to get her to laugh.
Smith, however, was no longer the face of the Sun Baby when "Teletubbies" had a revival in 2015. She will likely have no part in the upcoming reboot on Netflix.
the teletubbies sun baby is also too old for leonardo dicaprio pic.twitter.com/zpe8UJguCJ
— real brian griffin (@lusciousbeagle) September 1, 2022
Read Also: 'Sesame Street' Episodes Removed on HBO Max, Kids Show Responds by Opening Sesame Street TikTok
Netflix reboot to include Tituss Burgess
Broadway star and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" actor Tituss Burgess will join Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po when the show reboots on Netflix. The streaming service announced the upcoming series, which will start its run on November 14.
Burgess will serve as the narrator and will likely sing the new original songs for the children. There will be 12 episodes for the first season reboot.
Rachelle Beinart, Nick Chee Ping Kellington, Rebecca Hyland, and Jeremiah Krage will also join Burgess as the voices of the Teletubbies. There is no word, however, on who was cast as the new Sun Baby, but her face is already in the promo videos and posters.
"Teletubbies" was named for their colorful appearance, the antennae on their heads, and the TV screen on their stomachs. The series was originally a British production.
The "Teletubbies" controversy
Many viewers believed the original "Teletubbies" was canceled because of its controversies. According to Mirror, the character of Tinky Winky was the most controversial because the mascot was alleged to symbolize gay pride.
Jerry Falwell, an evangelist, warned parents about letting kids watch the children's show because of its alleged gay undertones. Tinky Winky's actor, Dave Thompson, was apparently fired because his take on the role as a gay person didn't fit with what the producers wanted.
Simon Shelton took over for Thompson and said that he used to get questions about Tinky Winky's orientation. However, he understood his character to be a 3-year-old and found the suggestion that Tinky Winky is gay a silly thought.
The actor, however, died in 2018 at 52 years old. His autopsy revealed high concentrations of alcohol in his system.
