She was quite literally a ray of sunshine beaming into televisions around the world in the 1990s — and now she’s welcomed a little ray of sunshine of her own.
Jess Smith was just nine months old when she was cast as the smiling, giggling Sun Baby in Teletubbies, the British kids’ TV show that originally ran from 1997 to 2001.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: The Teletubbies Sun Baby in action.
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She appeared at the beginning and end of every show as the Teletubbies either rose for the morning or went to bed.
It might be hard to believe, but that cute, if slightly surreal, baby is all grown up now at 28 — and now has a baby of her own.
If you’re wondering whether Smith’s little girl, named Poppy, looks anything like her Sun Baby mum, the answer is yes.
She has the same huge eyes, albeit with a slightly darker head of hair than her blonde mum.
Smith welcomed her first child with partner Ricky Latham in January, announcing the news on social media.
Sharing a picture of her baby daughter’s hand on Instagram, she wrote: “One whole week of you.”
Since then Smith has kept her followers updated on how the newest family member is going.
“12 days in our lives, 7 days at home, 2 very lucky parents,” she wrote in a later post.
Poppy’s middle name is Rae — an alternative spelling of a sunshine “ray” in a nostalgic nod to Smith’s time as the Teletubbies Sun Baby.
“Congratulations, ‘Mrs Sun!’,” one follower wrote after Smith announced her baby had arrived.
“I’m getting old, the Teletubbies baby has had a baby!” joked another.
“Congrats! When the Teletubby baby has a baby you feel kinda old!” another agreed.
“Very happy for you!”
“Maybe your new kid can watch the US series of Teletubbies as well as the UK series!” one fan wrote, referring to a rebooted American version of the beloved show.
Smith sparked an outpouring of nostalgia when she announced in October last year that she was expecting a child.
“When two becomes three,” she wrote, sharing a photo of her baby scan on Instagram.
Smith only revealed that she was the baby featured in Teletubbies when she was 19 years old.
“So I’ve recently celebrated my 19th birthday and after a lot of thought, I’ve decided it’s time to tell everyone,” she shared on Facebook at the time.
“I used to hide it but after a lot of encouragement from my friends at university, I’ve gained the confidence to come out with it.
“I am the sun from Teletubbies. There has been quite a few people pretending to be ‘the sun’ but only I could tell you the real story.”
“Everyone says they can see the likeness between my face now and me as a baby,” she added.
“I still have a baby face.”
For many, Smith’s striking blue eyes are the dead giveaway.
She may be all grown up now, but those intense blue eyes remain the same.
For those who weren’t around in the late 1990s, or who have been hiding under a rock in the decades since, the Teletubbies were exuberant — some might say irritating — colourful creatures with big ears who beamed from the TV.
Named Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa Laa and Po, they spoke in gibberish, much to the delight of small children (and annoyance of some parents).
Smith, from Kent, UK, was nine months old when she was chosen to play the giggling sun, keeping her role a secret right up until she was a university student.
She once admitted she had never quite been sure why she was chosen to play the Sun Baby, other than the fact she giggled a lot.
“I haven’t changed much either,” she said.
“I am still giggly.”
Smith once told the Daily Mail UK she remembered watching Teletubbies when she was a child.
“When I was young I used to laugh along with the sun but it was only when I got older that I understood it was me,” she said.
“My close friends and family knew, but it just never interested me before to tell everyone.
“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. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
“My family will all remember it for ever.”
Smith reportedly received the equivalent of $A482 for her TV appearance — and was given a box of toys.
In an interview with the Daily Star, she revealed how she was “placed in front of a mirror” and was filmed “laughing at herself” in order to create the iconic image.
In 2022, she revealed she worked in admin for a security company and was looking forward to “seeing more parts of the world before settling down and starting a family”.
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