A-listers are queuing up to work with the top dog in telly – a cartoon pup called Bluey.
Natalie Portman and Eva Mendes are among the stars appearing in the Aussie children’s TV show, which is taking the world by storm.
The hit cartoon follows the adventures of pooch Bluey, her sister Bingo, and their parents Chilli and Bandit.
Its first series has been streamed more than 121 million times on iPlayer and Disney+, and the show is second in popularity to The Simpsons.
Actress Melanie Zanetti, who voices mum Chilli, said: “We’ve got some incredible guests. Lin-Manuel Miranda is just airing, as is Natalie Portman, Eva Mendes and Rose Byrne.
“I know that Eva talks about her and Ryan Gosling watching Bluey with their kids.
“They were approached because they voiced how much they enjoyed the show, which is just so fabulous.”
Other famous fans of the show include actor Jamie Dornan and rocker Billy Joel.
Jamie apparently got hooked after watching Bluey with his children when he was filming The Tourist Down Under.
And Melanie proudly says that Billy had a Bluey birthday party for one of his children last year.
The show – which is now in its third series – has been a runaway success.
There is talk of a movie version – which has already won an International Emmy – and in the UK it has also gone on to top the toy charts, outselling Peppa Pig.
Melanie believes the key to the programme’s success is the fact it appeals to both children and adults – and tackles tough topics with lightness and humour.
The 37-year-old said: “Mothers… friends of mine, are like, ‘I feel so seen!’ because raising kids is really tricky.”
Bluey first appeared on Aussie TVs in 2018 and from the very beginning, its bosses decided to keep their young voice actors out of the limelight. Their names have never appeared on the show’s credits – a decision that Melanie wholeheartedly agrees with.
“I think it was so incredibly wise and such great foresight because they would have had no idea that it was going to become this huge,” she said.
“The creators just had such a keen sense of wanting to protect the younger cast.
“In a show that is so about the joy and beauty and simplicity of childhood, you wouldn’t want to be robbing these young children of that same thing the show is promoting.”
The Simpsons’ showrunner Al Jean recently admitted Bluey – a collaboration between BBC Studios and Australian Broadcasting Corporation – was major competition for his animated show, which has run for more than 30 series.
Al joked: “Damn you, Bluey… don’t try to catch us. You’re not going to do it.”
But Melanie says the cuddly kids’ show would definitely be up for the challenge.
“We are coming for you,” she laughed. “I will play Chilli for as long as they’ll have me.”
