- Morwenna Banks has been the voice of Mummy Pig on "Peppa Pig" for 18 years.
- At her first recording session, she recorded 52 episodes of the show in one go.
Known to millions of children around the world, "Peppa Pig" has been gracing our screens since 2004, capturing the hearts of preschoolers enamored with the English accent of a lovable pink pig.
Since the start of the show, the character Mummy Pig has been voiced by Morwenna Banks, a British actor, voice artist, and screenwriter.
"In the early '90s, I did a sketch on British television called 'Absolutely,'" said Banks, adding that Neville Astley and Mark Baker, the future animators of "Peppa Pig," were fans of the show.
"They approached me to do a beautiful animated short film called 'Jolly Rodger,' which was nominated for an Oscar. Later, they came up with 'Peppa Pig,'" she said.
The show had been turned down by several networks, so Banks wasn't convinced it would get picked up. But Channel 5 eventually decided to give the show a go. "And then we were up and running and never really looked back," she said.
The show has gotten more organized over the years
For her first recording session, Banks spent hours at the studio. "We had no idea how long anything would take or what we were meant to be doing," she said. "I sat in what was essentially a cupboard on a stool, and on the first day recorded 52 episodes. I had to come out at one point because I couldn't breathe. We were all exhausted."
Over the years, the team nailed down a more realistic recording pattern. "I go into the studio and record separately for four hours," she said. "We're organized now. I go into a booth on my own and record to script, rather than to picture, with the directors behind the screen with an engineer."
She doesn't want children to recognize her
Banks is also the voice of Madame Gazelle and Dr. Hamster the Vet on the show. Although people have occasionally recognized her voice, Banks doesn't like to make it known that she is the actual Mummy Pig. "I really want to keep the magic, because it can be really confusing for children if Mummy Pig doesn't look like the animated character," she said.
Banks' children have grown up with their mother being Mummy Pig, and it's become part of their normal life. "It's quite funny for them, just an inevitable fact of life," she said. "It's always been there for them."
One Christmas, she said she came across a Hamleys toy store with her children and saw a giant Mummy Pig in the shop window. "It was bigger than me," she remembered. "And then once we went to Peppa Pig World when they were young. It was odd for them to suddenly hear my voice coming out of one of the characters. They're breezy kids and just sort of shrug."
She loves Mummy Pig
In her nearly two decades of voicing Mummy Pig, Banks has come to love the character. "I would like to be as tall as Mummy Pig," she said. "Would like to have a good dress sense. She is much smarter than I am. I love that she is funny and independent. One of my favorite episodes was when Mummy Pig goes to work, presented as a regular working mom."
Banks has nothing but respect for the show, which is why she's stuck with it for so long. "It's a phenomenally written show," she said. "The writers always find something in the show that is relatable for a wider audience. It's not patronizing, not preachy, but it's funny. I don't have to do anything because it's all there for me."
As Mummy Pig since the show's inception, Banks feels a sense of responsibility for being beloved by so many. "I take it very seriously," she said. "It's a privilege and responsibility. I'd love to continue being the voice of Mummy Pig. I feel very proud of everyone who has been involved in it and would love to continue with it."