Emma Kennedy interview
Emma Kennedy talks about playing Becky in Strange Hill High...
Hi Emma. Can you tell us about Strange Hill High...
It's a show that's ostensibly about an odd little school where anything and everything weird and wonderful can happen but at its heart it's about three friends and how they stick by each other through thick and thin. A sort of Scooby Doo meets Young Frankenstein kind of show.
Tell us about your character in the show, how do you see Becky?
Becky Butters is the overly optimistic underachiever. She's hopeless at everything but never gives up. Hope always springs eternal for Becky. I adore her.
How do you relate to Becky? Do you think young girls can relate to Becky?
What I really like about Becky is how she's neither pretty nor especially clever. She's un-extraordinary in every way. What she has is boundless enthusiasm. She's like the runt of the litter but at her core is a loyal, decent girl who is willing to stick up for her pals and do the right thing. I admire her resilience and her determination, the way she doesn't let failure get her down. She's a fighter. And I think the lesson she can teach young girls is - you may be small but you can always be determined.
Have you voiced any characters in the past? How did you enjoy the process?
Yes. I voiced a host of elves in Arthur Christmas. I've also voiced an Alien and a Lettuce Leaf. I've also voiced Bart Simpson for BBC Radio 1. The voice of Becky came pretty quickly to me. Technically she's actually Bart Simpson without the American accent.
What was it like working with the rest of the cast?
Brilliant. I adored Caroline Aherne. I could sit and listen to her tell stories all day long. It was always great fun when we were all together in the studio. John Thomson is solid value. He's another great storyteller. (None can be repeated, obviously.)
Was your school anything like Strange Hill High?
No. Absolutely nothing like it. Although we did have a mysterious School Owl and a Corridor of Suspicion, so maybe it was...
What is the best thing about the show?
It's sense of energy and fun. I love the puppets, the sets are incredible and the storylines are incredibly inventive.
Are you a fan of animation?
Massive fan of animation. I'm actually a semi-expert on the old Looney Tunes cartoons. I often give talks on them at animation festivals. And I own a Morph.
What was it like to work with Josh Weinstein and the team?
A real privilege. I am a massive fan of The Simpsons and Futurama so just to be in his presence is a sharp thrill, let alone actually get to work with him. Any emails from him telling me I've done good work are always met with the same giddy surge as if I'd won an Olympic Gold.
You wrote an episode of the show, how did you enjoy the process?
Very much so. It was very collaborative which I found thoroughly enjoyable and the storylines are such fun to come up with. You can let your imagination run riot.