Harley Bird, the voice actor who played Peppa Pig for 13 years, has died at age 21. She was the third and longest-running voice of the popular children’s cartoon character, which airs in 118 territories around the world.
Bird started voicing Peppa when she was five years old, after being signed by Alphabet Kidz Talent Agency. She won a Bafta in 2011 for her performance and reportedly earned £1,000 an hour for her role. She also recorded songs for the Peppa Pig album, which became a viral hit in 2019.
She announced that she was leaving the role of Peppa Pig on 31 January 2020, saying that it was “the start of an incredible journey” and that she had “unforgettable memories” with her colleagues. She was succeeded by nine-year-old Amelie Bea Smith, who said it was a “dream come true” to voice Peppa.
Bird also appeared in films and radio dramas, such as Blueberry, How I Live Now, and Goodbye. She attended Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and lived in Hertfordshire with her parents and three siblings.
The cause of her death has not been revealed. Her fans and co-stars have expressed their shock and sadness at the news, paying tribute to her talent and personality. Neville Astley and Mark Baker, the creators of Peppa Pig, said that Bird was “a key part of the success of Peppa Pig” and that they were “delighted to have worked with her”.¹²³
Source: Conversation with Bing, 01/04/2023(1) Harley Bird – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley_Bird Accessed 01/04/2023.
(2) Peppa Pig voice actor Harley Bird quits after 13 years. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jan/31/peppa-pig-voice-actor-harley-bird-quits-after-13-years Accessed 01/04/2023.
(3) Peppa Pig voice Harley Bird to step down – BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51318539 Accessed 01/04/2023.