US actor Steve Carrell has become the latest big name to throw his support behind Australian music icons The Wiggles, sharing an audition video for the group as part of a new promotional clip for his new film, Minions: The Rise Of Gru.
In the clip, Carrell participates in a video call with The Wiggles’ current lineup, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Tsehay Hawkins, and founding member Anthony Field.
“This is amazing. It’s so, so good to see you,” Carell gushes in his introduction. “I want to say that I am a huge fan of your work. The old stuff, the new stuff. I saw you on tour in ’91, I think it was.”
As the clip continues, Carrell offers up his resumé, gives a brief plug to his new movie, and then explains that he was getting in touch to audition for the role of the yellow Wiggle. Unfortunately, Carrell is a few months too late, with Hawkins having taken over the role following the departure of Emma Watkins in October of 2021.
“Steve, I think you would make an excellent yellow Wiggle,” Field said, “[but] we already have a new yellow wiggle, Tsehay!”
“Oh, and she’s locked in?” a visibly hurt Carrell queries as he continues regardless, suggesting the return of the green Wiggle, and offering a wardrobe change by way of a gown to replace their trademark skivvies.
Carrell isn’t the first big name to profess his love of the group in recent months. Following The Wiggles’ record-breaking appearance atop triple j’s Hottest 100 in January, the group have undergone something of a career renaissance. While US hip-hop artist Lil Nas X recently expressed his desire to tour with the group, The Kid LAROI brought the band out onstage during a recent Melbourne show.
