A student from Kent has outed herself as the giggling baby in the sun on the smash hit children’s TV show Teletubbies.
Jess Smith, 19, said that while her close friends and family always knew about her starring role, she was “never interested” in telling anyone else.
The student from Chatham in Kent got the role in 1996 when she was just nine months old, and was paid just £250 and a box of toys.
The truth came out when she started university and was taking part in an ‘ice-breaking’ exercise.
At uni we had to tell the person sitting next to us something about ourselves so I thought I would say it. Then people from uni convinced me to tell everyone and they encouraged me through it all. I am proud.
– JESS SMITH
Jess says she thinks she was chosen for the part because she was “more giggly than everyone else”.
They put me in a high chair so I would be looking down like the sun – it was a clever idea. They tried lots of different things to make me smile. My dad played with cars on the floor to keep me entertained and held a teddy bear behind the camera to make me laugh. My dad is funny and knew how to make me giggle. He tries to be funny now.
– JESS SMITH
The Teletubbies sun baby (L) and Jess Smith now Credit: BBC/SWNS.com
Jess’ revelation puts to bed rumours that the sun baby was in fact American actress, and Laguna Beach co-star, Jessica Smith.
Jess even posted a photo on Facebook showing the letter the production company sent to her parents before the film shoot.
She [Jessica Smith] would have been 10 at the time of filming – and she doesn’t even look like the baby. My neighbours said I should put everyone right as they would be annoyed if it was them. But I wasn’t that bothered until I told my uni friends.
Despite the years, Jess says that nothing much has changed since she was watching over the Teletubbies and laughing at their antics. Courtesy: ITV