Voice of Peppa Pig begins studies at city university
SHE’S the voice behind one of the world’s most popular cartoon characters whose face is on everything from armbands to lunch boxes and cuddly toys.
Her voice has filled living rooms around the world and, for parents with young children, her character is as instantly recognisable as any Hollywood star.
And now the voice behind Peppa Pig – 18-year-old Cecily Bloom – has just started university in Cardiff.
For those children and their parents who have come to love (and often depend on) the show which first aired on TV in 2004, the news is akin to a member of the royal family studying in the city.
But there’ll be no royal protection or bodyguards for the teenager who has just arrived in the city to study medicine at Cardiff University and hopes to be a doctor one day.
And, whisper it quietly, but we can even lay claim to Peppa being part-Welsh.
Cecily, who voiced Peppa Pig from 2006 until 2009, and is seen by many fans as the definitive voice of Peppa, moved to the Welsh capital at the weekend and is more than familiar with the city as she has family here.
“I moved in on Saturday afternoon,” said Cecily, who has upped sticks from her home in London to take the journey down the M4.
“I’ve been loving it so far, I’ve met a lot of really friendly people already. It still feels a bit surreal that I’ve moved out and I’ll be living here for the next five years at least.
“Cardiff was my first choice. I have family living here – on my dad’s side, so my gran, aunties, uncles and cousins. I know it’s a friendly city from visiting them, but I can’t wait to explore it properly for myself.”
Cecily is starting a new chapter in her life but looks back fondly on her time as a key part of the unstoppable juggernaut that is one of the world’s most popular children’s TV shows.
It’s difficult to underestimate the enormous popularity of the animated series about Peppa, her family – Daddy Pig, Mummy Pig, and George – and her friends Danny Dog, Suzy Sheep and Emily Elephant.
It has been a huge hit on TV worldwide and has sold to more than 150 countries around the globe.
And alongside the TV show, there is the huge merchandising operation that includes films, a theme park, clothes, toys, books and much more.
When she got the part, Cecily said she had no idea how big the show was – in fact she hadn’t heard of it when she auditioned for the role aged seven.
“I used to go to Stagecoach (acting school) when I was younger and they had an agency there,” she said.
“I was offered an audition and I just went for a bit of fun and ended up getting the part. The audition was really relaxed, I remember all I had to do was read Peppa’s lines from a script into a microphone, which was pretty cool because I’d never been in a recording studio before.
“I had a really great time playing Peppa, mainly because the producers were always up for a laugh and made it fun. I didn’t have any idea how popular the show would become.”
Although she could retain her anonymity while enjoy the trappings of playing a global superstar, Cecily, who also voiced Lizzie Elf on the hit animated series Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, said she was still surprised to be asked for an autograph when people recognised her voice.
“The best thing was definitely messing about in the studio whilst recording, and visiting the animation studios to see how they put the show together,” she said.
“The only bizarre situations were when people ask for autographs, which I find strange because I’m really not a celebrity.”
Despite her brush with fame as a child voice actor, the teenager sees her career being in medicine rather than showbusiness.
“I enjoyed voice acting but it was just something I did for fun and was never really something I wanted to go into seriously,” she said. “I want to do medicine because I think it will be a really interesting and rewarding career.”
As for whether she will reveal her showbiz secret to her new student mates, Cecily said: “I was going to try and keep it quiet but I don’t think it will be too long before people find out.”
And will she lapse into Peppa mode after a few drinks on a heavy night?
“Haha, I really hope not, but who knows what could happen? Everyone asks me to do Peppa, but unfortunately my voice has changed quite a lot since playing Peppa, so my impression isn’t all that great.”
However, given it rains so much in Wales, she might find it difficult to cope with the temptation of jumping in the many muddy puddles.
“It will definitely be tough, it’s one of the main reasons I chose Cardiff of course,” she laughed.
And finally, as to what Daddy Pig would think about Peppa studying medicine at university, the medical student said: “Well, I reckon he’d probably be a little surprised since Peppa’s character isn’t what you’d expect in a typical doctor, but I hope he’d be proud!”