Juliet Cadzow, the actress who played Edie McCredie on the beloved CBeebies show Balamory, has left fans stunned with her dramatic new look. Over 20 years after first appearing on the BAFTA-winning BBC programme, which aired from 2002 to 2005, Cadzow looks worlds away from the character fans remember.
In Balamory, Cadzow played Edie McCredie, the friendly school bus driver and mechanic who ferried children to nursery in her distinctive yellow van and fixed vehicles in her iconic blue garage. The show was set on a colorful fictional Scottish island and became a staple of children's television.
Return to Balamory and New Role
Recently, Cadzow reprised her role as Edie for a Balamory reboot that launched to 1.5 million viewers, marking the biggest audience for a CBeebies show debut this year. However, it is her latest role that has sparked widespread reaction. Cadzow has taken on the part of Norma Desmond in the theatre production Sunset Boulevard: The Backstage Cut, written and directed by Morag Fullarton. The show explores Billy Wilder's legendary 1950 film and the behind-the-scenes tensions surrounding its creation.
Dramatic Transformation
For her role as Norma Desmond, Cadzow swapped her light blue t-shirts and colorful cardigans from Balamory for faded Hollywood glamour, including a glamorous period gown and a headscarf. The transformation has left many fans shocked, with some saying they did not recognize her at all.
One fan commented: “What an incredible transformation. She completely disappears into the role.” Another added: “I genuinely didn't recognise her until halfway through.”
Cadzow's Career Beyond Balamory
Aside from Balamory, Cadzow has appeared in shows such as Still Game, Doctor Who, Skins, and the Scottish soap River City. Reflecting on her time on Balamory, she told the BBC: “I still get folk, who are in their mid-20s now, coming up to me and saying, ‘Oh God, you were Edie McCredie! It was a huge part of people’s lives, and what fun it was to do. We got up to hi-jinks on Mull and we were a great big family.”
The cast of Sunset Boulevard: The Backstage Cut also includes John Kielty, Mark McDonnell, and Frances Thorburn. Balamory is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
