For her first regular on-screen character, Robyn Elwell has joined the cast of CBBC’s The Dumping Ground in Series 11 as Erin, working alongside a cast including William Wyn Davies, who plays care worker Ben. In 2021, Robyn played Bianca in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s psychological thriller film The Lost Daughter, working with Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley, who she reunited with when she was cast in this year’s release of Wicked Little Letters. Since the age of seven, Robyn has voiced Pedro Pony in the children’s animated series Peppa Pig, and as a stage actor, she made her West End debut as Amanda Thripp in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical. For Robyn’s training, she attends Singer Stage School in Essex, and she is part of their agency Sandra Singer Associates. We chatted to Robyn about joining the cast of The Dumping Ground as Erin, voicing Pedro Pony in Peppa Pig, working on the psychological thriller film The Lost Daughter and playing Amanda Thripp in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical for her West End debut.

You have joined the cast of The Dumping Ground as regular character Erin for the new Series 11, how did you feel finding out you’d booked the role and what do you remember from your first day on set?

I was really excited because when I was younger I used to watch the programme all the time, so when I found out I had got the part it was a really surreal moment for me. The audition process had been very long too, so when I finally got the call, it felt brilliant that I was going to be joining such a long-running series!

I remember a funny story from my first day on set where I was about to shoot my very first scene, when one of the sound team dropped the boom on top of me (that’s the great big sound stick). It was really funny and helped to relax me a bit.

What is Erin like to play and how would you describe the character?

Erin is a very upbeat and bubbly person but has also got a bit of cheekiness about her. She always stands up for her friends and what is right. She always tries to bring everyone’s spirits up and can often be seen baking cakes, making things or in her own little world. Like many of the characters in The Dumping Ground though, she has had a difficult past that we find out about later on, so when I got to play her I got lots of different storylines and was able to show many different sides of Erin, which I really enjoyed.

How is it working with your fellow cast members and reading the scripts for the first time?

Working with the cast is like being with your friends every day. Even with the adults you build different connections and inside jokes so it was very fun. All the girls lived in a house together, so it was like one big sleepover every night, and you can imagine what that was like with seven girls! It was hard work too, but everyone on set was so friendly and helpful and we had a lot of fun, so it didn’t really feel like it.

It was always interesting getting new scripts to find out all the next storylines and what part Erin had to play in them. I would read the scripts through first, like a story, and then you would learn individual scenes as you were filming them. My roommate and I would learn lines together each night, sometimes when we were supposed to be asleep!

What is it like having Erin as your first regular on-screen acting role and how different are you finding filming The Dumping Ground to your previous projects?

It felt pretty cool that I got to develop my character over a longer period of time, and as I was able to get to know Erin more, the production team and I were able to bring more elements to her. It is different from other projects I have done as I had to live away from home during the week for six months, whereas before I stayed at home or went away to film with my mum as my chaperone. There are also a lot more people on the set of The Dumping Ground, and I had new scenes to learn lines for every night to film the next day. I feel very lucky that I got to do what I love every day.

How do you find the experience voicing Pedro Pony in Peppa Pig and what is it like being part of a very well-known animated series?

Voicing Pedro Pony is always fun because he’s a very goofy character and we have a lot of laughs in the recording studio. I’ve been voicing Pedro Pony since I was seven years old and everyone is always really interested in this role and they are always getting me to say Pedro’s lines to them. My family and I used to watch Peppa Pig so when I was offered a role in the series as my first job, we couldn’t believe it!

Do you have a favourite aspect of recording for Peppa Pig and how is it getting into character?

One of my favourite aspects is when we get to record the songs because that’s always really fun. It’s interesting recording for Pedro as I get to say each of my lines in three or four different ways which helps with getting into character each time and means I can play with how Pedro might say things. Before I get to the recording studio, I always think about and remind myself how Pedro speaks and get him into my head.

In 2021, you played Bianca in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s psychological thriller film The Lost Daughter alongside a cast including Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley, can you tell us about the film and your character?

I played Bianca, who was Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley’s daughter. They played the same character, Leda at different stages of her life, and I appeared in the flashback scenes when Leda was younger. Bianca was feisty and wanted a lot of her mum’s attention. When she didn’t get that she could wind her mum up and be very demanding. She was the oldest daughter so tried to protect her younger sister. She also had very sad moments as she couldn’t understand why her mum had left her and her sister. She was a great character to play.

What was it like on set of the film and being directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal?

We filmed The Lost Daughter on a small island in Greece, which was very beautiful. Being directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal was an amazing experience as she is such a lovely person but also because she would let me play the character as I thought she should be played. She would always ask me ‘what do you think Bianca would do, and how do you think Bianca feels?’. She would sometimes take me aside and whisper directions to me so that Jessie didn’t know what I was going to do, or the other way around so Jessie would do something I wasn’t expecting, so that our reactions would be very real and natural. I remember one time Jessie was told to really shout at me; I knew it was coming as part of the scene, but I was genuinely shocked which gave the natural reaction Maggie wanted. But then a minute later we’d all be laughing and having fun again. Her style of directing was amazing – she trusted us so much as actors. This was my first screen role and I have to thank Maggie, Jessie and Olivia as I learnt so much from them.

How was it attending the BFI London Film Festival and seeing the completed film for the first time?

Attending the premiere and walking the red carpet was one of the best experiences of my life so far! I wasn’t allowed to watch the film at the premiere as some of the content is too adult, so I had to be chaperoned backstage, but I did get to walk onto the stage with all the cast before the film and go to the party afterwards!

You reunited with Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley for the recent release of Wicked Little Letters, how was this to film?

I just had a small part in this film, but it was another great experience working with another director and film crew. It was lovely to see Olivia and Jessie again and we met up the night before filming and had a great catch up!

Do you have any stand-out memories from making your West End debut in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical as Amanda Thripp that you can tell us about?

On opening night I remember performing Revolting Children and it felt amazing dancing on the stage in front of a packed audience for the first time, and all the confetti comes down at the end and then all the applause and cheers from the audience! All my team’s families and friends were there too so I think it was especially loud that night! We loved it when the audience cheered loudly – it really spurs you on to perform even more! The feeling of performing live is something else, and so different to screen acting – it’s a real thrill!

Was there anything that drew you to the role of Amanda and what was she like to play?

Amanda is a very energetic and cheeky character and I loved playing her. Every night I got to dance the most incredible choreography, sing, do gymnastics over the vault, swing on the swings, scooter round the stage and perform The Thripp Throw where I got swung around by my pigtails and hurled into the air by Miss Trunchbull! It really was the most brilliant role! I’d seen the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical when I was six years old and I remember coming out at the end of the show and saying to my family ‘I want to do that!’. So I really am very lucky to have then been cast in this dream role three years later!

What are some of your favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch, and how do you like to spend your free time?

I love Christmas films and with us just having celebrated Christmas I’ve recently watched lots of my favourites – Nativity! is always popular in our house! I like watching dance-themed TV programmes like The Next Step and Dance Moms because I love to see all the dances they do, and I also really enjoy reality programmes like Next in Fashion and MasterChef. I loved SIX the Musical and I’d really like to go and see Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – that’s next on our list.

I like to spend my free time being busy! I train at my stage school three days a week in acting, dance, singing and acro. When I’m not doing that, I like to choreograph my own dances, or I’ll be in the kitchen cooking or I’ll be creating things or painting. I also love spending time with my friends and family.

Do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about and what are you hoping 2024 brings for you?

Sorry, my lips are sealed, but I would love to be in a horror or action film!

Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it?

My agent Sandra Singer has her own training school in Essex where I train every week. My older sister Niamh was training there and when I was little I wanted to do everything she did, so I joined the Wannabees class when I was three-and-a-half and then the main stage school when I was six and am still there. I began my training in acting, dance and singing every week and loved it all. Sandra puts me forward for jobs I am suitable for and I consider myself very lucky to have been cast and have played in these brilliant roles!

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