Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zara Woodcock

The Teletubbies original baby now after unexpected career turn since iconic sun role

Jess Smith became a children's television icon not long after she was born when she was cast as the sun in The Teletubbies.

Most people around the world will remember her adorable laugh and infectious smile as she shone a light on Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa Laa, and Po in Tubby land.

But now, the Sun Baby star is completely unrecognisable to many fans around the world and works in security.

"I now work for a security company based in Medway, managing the administrative side of the process," she revealed recently.

She also opened up about her future plans, which include "travelling and seeing more parts of the world, before settling down and starting a family".

The actress's face was emblazoned as the Teletubbies sun in the late 1990s, and of course, she looks worlds away almost 20 years later.

Jess now works in security (@Jesssmith/Instagram)
She doesn't remember much of filming (@Jesssmith/Instagram)

Speaking to Daily Star, Jess added she doesn't remember much from the filming of the children's show.

"I've been told I was placed in front of a mirror and was laughing at myself," she explained.

It had previously aired on the BBC from 1997 until 2001 before it had another run on CBeebies from 2015 to 2018.

The star played the giggling Sun Baby for four years between the years of 1997 and 2001.

She previously opened up about her adorable role in the programme and said she was cast when she was being weight in the hospital.

At the time, producers let her sit in front of a mirror and a camera while she watched her dad play with toys.

The Teletubbies Sun (Time4News/Youtube)

Get all the biggest showbiz news straight into your inbox. Sign up for the free Mirror Showbiz newsletter.

Luckily, the sweet moment made baby Jess laugh so much that she was instantly cast in the coveted BBC role.

Speaking to BBC South East about landing the role, Jess explained in 2017: "I was being weighed at the hospital.

"My mum took me and it just happened to be the same time that the producer of the old series had come in and wanted the hospital to get in contact with them if they'd seen any smiley babies."

She also recnetly said: “While recording my dad held a teddy bear behind the camera to get me to laugh, and rolled a toy racing car to get me to look down at the camera, and it obviously worked.”

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct at 0207 29 33033.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.