Natalie Morales, who voices Betty DeVille in the new series, expresses her belief that showing a healthy and happy example of an out queer person is a beacon for young queer people.
- May 28, 2021
AceShowbiz - The "Rugrats" series revamp, which debuted on streaming site Paramount+ on Thursday, May 27, features a new gay character.
Betty DeVille, who was straight and married in the original series, is a lesbian in the new version of the show, voiced by gay star Natalie Morales.
"Anyone who watched the original show may have had an inkling Betty was a member of the alphabet mafia," Natalie told AV Club. "Betty is a single mom with her own business who has twins and still has time to hang out with her friends and her community, and I think it's just so great because examples of living your life happily and healthily as an out queer person is just such a beacon for young queer people who may not have examples of that [sic]."
"Even cartoons were hugely influential for me as a kid, and if I'd been watching 'Rugrats' and seen Betty casually talking about her ex-girlfriend, I think at least a part of me would have felt like things might be OK in the future."
E.G. Daily, Nancy Cartwright, Cheryl Chase, Cree Summer and Kath Soucie will reprise their roles in voicing Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, Susie as well as Phil and Lil respectively. Of it, Nickelodeon President Brian Robbins told Deadline, "First of all, we have all the original babies back, all the original cast back, which we are thrilled to have."
"Some of the original actors - remember the show is 20-25+ years-old, and we thought there was an opportunity for new exciting comedic voices who grew up watching and being fans of the show and let them do cameos," he added. "So we are really excited about our adult cast on 'Rugrats'."
