Summary
It was so long ago, it may be easy to forget that there was a time when you would flick on the TV (or ask an older sibling to do it for you) and settle back to enjoy the sunny wonder ofThe Teletubbieswith all your colorful friends. Though for my money,none were as friendly nor as colorful as Po the Teletubby. Created by Anne Wood and Andrew Davenport for the BBC,Teletubbiesis a children’s program that aired from 1997 to 2001, then was rebooted for CBeebies from 2015-2018, and has also been rebooted for Netflix in 2022.
The series follows the four Teletubbies; Tinky-Winky (the purple one), Dipsy (the green one),Laa-Laa (the yellow one), and Po (the red one). Each episode features the Teletubbies coming out of their underground “Tubbytronic Superdome” to greet the Sun Baby and the viewers. It’s admittedly a bit strange now that I look back and probably why thoseblack-and-whiteTeletubbiesmemes got so popular, but what I remember most is how much fun it was just to be in that calm and odd world, with my favorite Teletubby of course.
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Po Is The Cutest (& Only Bilingual) Teletubby
Po Rides A Scooter And Speaks Cantonese
Of all the Teletubbies,Po has always been my favorite. Po is the youngest of the quartet, with the ages descending from Tinky Winky to Dipsy to Laa-Laa, then to Po. She’s also the shortest and has a circular antenna on her head, something like the stick you use to blow bubbles, which Po often does. While all the Teletubbies are adorable, Po seems like the youngest one and the most excited to try new things. She’s animated and fun-loving like the rest, but taken to a degree I particularly appreciated as an excitable child.
Unlike the other Teletubbies, Po speaks two languages, Cantonese and English.
She speaks in a high-pitched, and endearing voice that makes everything that comes out of her mouth funny or cute. Unlike the other Teletubbies, Po speaks two languages, Cantonese and English. As the Teletubby creator once revealed, Po is of Cantonese descent, viaThe Telegraph. Po is often the first to try something and her happiness, even when things don’t work out, always made me appreciate her attitude. She also had a really cool pink and blue scooter she’d zoom around on. What’s not to like about her?
Tinky Winky had a triangular-shaped antennae, Dipsy a stick-shaped one, and Laa-Laa a curly one.
The Po Actresses Make The Teletubby Even Cooler
Po Has Been Played By Two Actresses Over The Years
Po has been played by two actresses over the years,Pui Fan Lee in the original series and Rachelle Beinart in the 2015 and 2022 revivals. Lee has had a long career in children’s programming and has found success in more mature productions as well. She presented the CBeebies seriesShow Me Show Meand has frequently appeared in smaller roles on the children’s channel. Lee also has a recurring role inThe Neversand appears in an episode ofSlow Horses.
Beinart is a prolific stunt performer who’s worked inThe Batman,The Marvels,Game of Thrones, and many other notable properties. It makes me smile to know that underneath that heavy, fuzzy, red suit onThe Teletubbiesare two consummate professionals who have been working for years in both serious dramas and nearly every recent superhero film (seriously, check it out onIMDb) but chose to don the TV belly and circular antennae. I’ve heard the term don’t meet your heroes, but from theInstagramsBeinart posts, she and Lee seem just lovely, and excellent stewards of my beloved Po.
Teletubbies
Cast
Teletubbies is a British children’s television series that follows the adventures of four colorful, playful characters named Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po. Set in a whimsical landscape called Teletubbyland, the show features the characters engaging in simple, repetitive activities that include singing, dancing, and interacting with each other. The series is designed to cater to preschool-aged children and incorporates educational themes such as basic problem-solving and social skills.
