Nikky Smedley

Nikky Smedley is a British actress, dancer, choreographer, and suit performer who is best known for doing the body and voice of Laa-Laa on the original Teletubbies. She is also a regular within Ragdoll Productions being a choreographer for Boohbah, In the Night Garden, and even the Teletubbies reboot (though not perform). Nikky hasn't really appeared in any project featuring Sesame Street characters but should have when Elmo and Cookie Monster starred on The Furchester Hotel. Smedley was paired with John Simmit, Pui Fan Lee, and Simon Shelton since they all performed the main characters. Despite that she hasn't worked with any actual puppeteers except for Robin Stevens, Mark Dean, and Andrew Davenport, though the latter ran the original. It must have been pretty difficult for her to perform Laa-Laa on the show since it was on-location and she wore a full-bodied suit. And how did Nikky Smedley even voice the character when she was inside the costume? All the actors must have received special training before production began. Way after the original Teletubbies ended, she has been interviewed multiple times as seen on TV shows and podcasts. Nikky must have really enjoyed choreographing the series Boohbah and In the Night Garden, the latter starred Nick Kellington who has worked with the Muppets. Let's hope Smedley is still working today for there are online rumors that she died, but that's not true (it's too soon for someone to say it). Maybe someday she'll meet a Sesame Street character, if they ever make an appearance in the UK that is. You never know when people from different series will collide in a way that would make history. Nikky Smedley, despite not doing any international Sesame Street production, voicing a character within a full-bodied costume technically counts as puppetry. You did so well entertaining children around the world on Teletubbies. Don't stop choreographing people to dance if you still are doing it. Ragdoll Productions made you a star Nikky. Fantastic job Smedley!

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