Kids’ TV star looks unrecognisable 25 years after childhood fame and cast reunion
A KIDS’ TV star looks unrecognisable 25 years after childhood fame and a cast reunion.
CITV series My Parents are Aliens ran from 1999 to 2006 and followed two extraterrestrial beings who crash-landed on earth, and tried to disguise themselves as human by fostering three children.
One of those kids was teenager Melanie ‘Mel’ Barker played by Danielle McCormack.
Danielle, now 41, has reflected on her childhood fame in a new video on TikTok.
She said: “I played Mel, who was the oldest of the three children. Mel was a really interesting character because she was sort of known for her very moody personality and her very eclectic, punky dress sense.
“She was very multifaceted, and there were lots of layers to her.
“I think playing Mel was probably one of my biggest achievements. Just because I think a lot of what she was going through really resonated with people.”
She continued: “It’s always really nice to hear when people tell me that they were going through a really difficult time and they found comfort in some of Mel’s storyline.
“That’s something that I’m always going to be really proud of.”
Danielle looked amazing in the video, with perfect make up and her brown hair hanging straight and glossy around her shoulders.
Fans of the show commented on her video, with one writing: “My Parents Are Aliens was my CHILDHOOD”.
Another added: “With the volume of horror stories coming out about child actors on kids shows, it’s really refreshing and heartwarming to hear you had such a positive experience (PS Mel was an icon).”
A third wrote: “Wikipedia says you are 41 No way do I believe that, you haven’t aged at all!”
Danielle also spoke about the cast’s recent reunion to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary.
She said: “Recently, we had a 25th-anniversary party, which was really, really nice.
“I don’t think we’ve all been in the same room together since we were actually filming the show. It felt like no time had passed.
“I think you always [value] the sort of connections that you’ve made with someone where you can not see someone for a really long time, and then you’re back in a room with them again, and it just feels like they’re exactly the same person.
“Although we all looked a little bit older, I’m not going to lie.”
The My Parents are Aliens cast also included Tony Gardner, Carla Mendonça, Alex Kew and Charlotte Francis.