At four years old, Harriette Cox decided she wanted to be an actor, and after auditioning with Warren and Jude at TTA, they signed her to their agency and she started self-taping. For Harriette’s first professional acting project, she became the new voice of Peppa Pig having joined the animation in the Series 8 finale, and she saw her name on the big screen when Peppa Meets the Baby was shown in cinemas. Alongside acting, Harriette spends eight hours a week training in gymnastics/trampolining. Answering our questions, Harriette talks to us about being the new voice of Peppa Pig, what it felt like having Peppa Meets the Baby shown in cinemas and what she’s enjoying about voicing Peppa Pig in the Peppa Pig franchise.

How did you feel finding out you would be the new voice of Peppa Pig?

I was very excited when I heard I would be voicing Peppa because I had such fun at my audition doing my first-ever recording and I was so happy to get the job.

What is Peppa like to voice and how is it getting into character?

Peppa is really fun to voice because she has lots of different emotions and I get to do sad, happy, funny, excited and cheeky. The one I love the most is when she is happy because I am happy. Once I had to do a robot voice and that was lots of fun.

It is easy getting into character because I think I know Peppa well but sometimes it takes a few tries to get my voice right because sometimes I forget and go a bit squeaky and I have to remember that they don’t want a squeaky Peppa but after that it’s ok!

Is there anything you feel you have learnt so far from having this as your first professional acting project?

I’ve learned that expressions matter a lot, and if I smile you can hear it in my voice, and if I feel excited you can hear that too, so I have to feel the same as Peppa is feeling. I’ve also learned how to understand scripts and directions and my reading has got much better. I’ve also got a lot better at sitting still because when I shuffle around you can hear it and it can spoil a perfect line! I have learned that it is really important to be on time and to do good listening too.

What does a typical recording session look like for you when recording as Peppa?

I get to the studio and I eat a chocolate bar and say hello to everybody, the team are all really nice and I love seeing them. I usually give everyone a sticker and then play downstairs until it is time to start. When I go upstairs, I go straight in the recording box and put my headphones on – I used to go in with my mum but now I go by myself because I’m bigger now. I read my lines until we have a break and then I draw or talk until we start again. I always sit down to record my lines and I always have a big glass of orange juice with ice and a slice of lemon because I get very thirsty when I am recording. After we finish recording, we explore London and I have seen lots of really nice things in London.

Apart from Peppa, do you have a favourite character in the show?

My favourite character is Susie because she is so kind and really funny, and she is a very good friend to Peppa, and I try to be a good friend to my friends.

What was it like recording for Peppa Meets the Baby and how did you feel having it shown in cinemas?

I liked recording for Peppa Meets the Baby because I got to meet more new people and it was exciting that everyone would know about baby Evie because that was a very hard secret to keep. I’ve never been in a movie and I wondered what it would be like to hear my voice in the cinema, and when I saw my name on the big screen I could hardly believe it. I watched the movie with all of my friends and family and it was nice seeing all the different episodes because some were a long time ago and I remembered all the fun we had making them. I have a good memory and I remembered most of Peppa’s lines too!

What was it like hearing your voice as Peppa Pig for the first time in the finale of Series 8?

I worked really hard voicing Peppa and when it came on the television it felt amazing, I liked hearing myself but it sounded very strange and has taken a while to get used to it. I waited a long time to hear it on the television and it was worth it, it was the moment I had been waiting for.

How did you get into acting?

When I was four, I watched a movie and I told my mummy I wanted to be on TV. My parents took me for an audition with Warren and Jude at TTA and they liked me. I started making self-tapes for them and one day the Peppa tape came, which was super exciting.

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?

My favourite shows to watch are KPop Demon Hunters, The Worst Witch and Malory Towers. I also watch Polly Pocket and my favourite movie is Wicked. I am excited for the next Wicked movie to come out.

How do you like to spend your time away from acting?

When I am not acting, I spend a lot of my time doing gymnastics and trampolining, I train for eight hours a week and love learning new skills. I love art and spend lots of time drawing and colouring and I love being with my friends and having playdates.

What do you enjoy most about being an actor and voiceover artist?

I just find it really fun to do, it’s something different in my week and all my friends think it’s really cool. I like that people all over the world can hear my voice and I get to meet lots of people and see lots of London.

What are you hoping the next year brings for you?

I am hoping to be busy with Peppa, and maybe to do some acting on television because I love acting too. I would love to go to Peppa Pig World and Bubble Planet, and I would like to meet lots more people and make lots of new friends in the next year.