Disclosure: This post is part of our visit to Walt Disney World provided by Disney, in exchange for coverage. However, opinions are 100% mine.
I was lucky enough to be a part of the Annie Potts interview held during the recent Toy Story 4 press junket at Walt Disney World. While I enjoyed all the interviews we had at the junket, Annie Potts’ interview was amazing! For some, her name is not familiar, but for some of us seasoned peeps, it was familiar! Pretty in Pink was a favorite. She has a wonderful spirit about her and such a down to earth person. It was a wonderful experience getting her answers to our questions.
Annie Potts – Who is She?
As soon as she walked into the room, I knew this interview was going to be great. Annie came in with such a friendly aura about her. You could tell she actually wanted to be there. Plus, she’s been a favorite actor of mine for a long time, so I was excited. While she’s done many amazing roles, Bo Peep and Janine (from Ghostbusters) are my two favorites.
Those two iconic characters aside, I was so excited about this interview because not many people seem to realize just how incredible her body of work has been. She’s been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She’s a powerhouse actor in her own right, and she brought a ton of sass to the new Bo Peep, which I loved.
The Path to Bo Peep
Annie almost missed the Toy Story boat, believe it or not. When Pixar first approached her to play Bo Peep for the first film, she was pregnant and had a teenage son. Needless to say, she was so frazzled and distracted that she completely forgot about the disc they’d sent her to watch. It wasn’t until the disc turned into a pile of discs that her son finally popped one in to watch. After she saw it, she called Pixar back. Thank goodness she did! I can’t imagine Bo Peep as anyone else.
Bo Peep’s Transformation
When asked about Bo Peep’s transformation and her years of being stuck in a second-hand store, Annie said, “She’s been knocked around quite a bit, and she’s just kept on going and in a cheerful inventive way. I mean, this girl drives a Skunk Mobile. No one is going to screw with her.”
Bo Peep’s Impact on Children
One thing that I loved about Bo Peep’s transformation is that she was no longer the damsel in distress. Instead, she was a total bad@$$! She was so strong and take charge, and I think that’s a refreshing change from her former place in the Toy Story franchise.
When asked about this change and how it can speak to children, Annie said, “This is what a woman is and to young girls, this is what a woman can be and is. I’m just thrilled to voice those qualities. It is such a privilege when you’re giving positive messages to especially children.”
She went on to say that she didn’t realize how important Bo Peep would be to children until she actually saw the movie.
“Over time, I became aware of how important the role was going to be,” she said, “but not until three weeks ago when I saw the thing. I told Josh afterward, I said thank you so much for putting this crown on my head. I think she’s so lovely. My wish was to bring all the experience of my long colorful life to kick ass Bo”.
Bo Peep’s Updated Look
The advancements in computer animation have been huge since the first Toy Story came out, and every time we get another movie in the franchise, the characters just look better and better. We all love the new looks, but we wanted to know what Annie thought about them.
“Oh, I thought it was great,” she said. “She’d had some limitations before being a lamp. Once they got her off the base, all bets were off. But as Josh was saying, they did all these tests, seeing what porcelain looked like when it broke and filming that and then trying to recreate that with their computer magic and everything. I was very pleased. She’s very sassy, ripped off her skirt, uses it as a cape. Even though this isn’t a superhero movie, her superpowers are her heart and her courage.”
We Learned a Lot at the Annie Potts Interview
I had so much fun listening to Annie’s responses to our questions at this interview. I think it’s so important that Pixar took Bo Peep in the direction that they did, and I’m so glad that Annie was a part of it. She is an amazing actress and using her voice, she’s helped bring an updated vibe to the Toy Story franchise as well as showing little girls and boys that girls and women can be the superheroes in a movie instead of just the damsels in distress.
I hope you enjoyed this Annie Potts interview, and I hope since Toy Story 4 is now in theatres, it’s made you want to go see the movie!. As you know, I’ve seen it, and I can say without a doubt that it’s one of the best installments in the franchise.
How exciting! It must have been so amazing to be in this room! I am so stoked about this movie. I love that I can finally see it now! Yay.
Yes it was. Such an amazing opportunity.
Annie Potts is one of my favorite actresses, and I’ve loved her work on all the Toy Story movies. I can’t wait to see what she does in her new bold Bo Peep vibe.
Yed, she’s been around for quite some time too.
How awesome! Yes, I do remember her from Ghostbusters! I’m so glad she helped turn this damsel in distress into a superhero!
Yes she is incredible.
When I saw her photo in your post, I thought she looked familiar! Your interview was so wonderful! I bet she gives Bo Peep a lot of depth!
She’s changed quite a bit.
Toy story 4! No way? Cannot wait. Thanks for the interview.
YES!!!!
I adore Annie Potts! She’s in a couple of my favorite sitcoms, Young Sheldon for one. She’s a sassy yet kind person, you can see it all over her!
Yes, I love her on Young Sheldon!
Hhhhmmmmm…..I look forward to this particular instalment! I have never heard of Annie until just now. She seems to be a great actress!
She is! I remember her from back in the 80s and 90s
Wow! I’m so excited for this edition. I grew up watching Toy Story! I love the changes on some of the characters. Mixes things up!
Same here. You will love this new one.
It seems like she was a super fun woman to get to chat with. She does a great job and I love her work!
Right? She is such a down to earth person.
I am so jealous you got to be at her interview. I love her so much and think she is just the greatest!
She is a great actress!
I love getting to take part in interviews like this. You really get to learn a lot about the actors behind the characters.
It is a very special opportunity and I am so thankful.
This is such a fun interview! I can’t wait to see the movie ♡
You need too!
Oh wow that is such a great opportunity. We are going to qatch Toy Story 4 later today, I’m really looking forward to it!
Oh good enjoy it!
Such a fun interview! She sounds like she was perfect for the part!
Absolutely!
I have loved her since Designing Women! And she’s great on Sheldon. When I read what This newest Toy story was going to be about, I was so excited. Can’t wait to see this.
She is just perfect for this role.
Thanks for the interview with Annie Potts. I didn’t know she was BoPeep!
Me either! That was a pleasant surprise.
What a great interview, thank you so much for sharing!! We plan on taking the kids to see this very soon, I can’t wait! I love all of the Toy Story movies and am so excited about this new one. I think it is awesome that they brought Bo Peep back and told her story as to where she has been all of these years!
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, so happy for Bo Peep it’s been a while. She is such a great fit.
I love Annie Potts! I had no idea she had a voice in the movie, that’s great to know!
YES! Isn’t she fantastic?
How awesome! Can’t wait to see the newest movie. I’m so glad Annie was able to change Bo Peep’s image
You will love it!