“There is a strong connection that I feel with his ability to see humour in everything,” said Danielle Grobler van Bloemfontein, the voice actor behind Rigby. Even when everything is going downhill, he still shows up for his friends and remains a very humorous character.

“What makes me and the character correlate more is that we are both really dramatic. But there was a slight change in his behaviour when he started dating and going out on dates with his girlfriend. That’s when he started to care more and think things through, due to the fear of losing her.”

The character is sometimes misunderstood by a lot of people who think he is selfish, but he also cares deeply for his friends, and that has been proved hundreds of times. 

The character’s popularity has continued years after the original series ended, with fans still quoting Rigby and recreating his voice. “Hearing these jokes brings back memories of growing up with the character.

“It feels, first of all, when I hear a Rigby joke, it feels like a blast from the past. Because, as I said, I grew up watching Rigby, and I can happily join in.”

The way people interact with me has changed because when the show was released, I was busy with exams, and my teachers would come up to me in the middle of the exam to say congratulations.

“Few things that stuck out to me were, firstly, my coach joking that I could leave swimming and become a professional actor through my voice. My friends also started calling me Rigby, and whenever I walked past, they would ask me to do his ‘Whoa!’ voice.”

Rigby would become a stereotypical celebrity if he came to life today, although he would likely find himself in the same dangerous situations he often encountered in the series, said Grobler.

“I appreciate the fact that my voice will be heard by people not just in South Africa, but overseas as well. It feels really empowering to know that my voice can help influence people and, hopefully, positively influence their lives.” 

OFM News/Siyakholwa Mbatyazwa dg

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