• Alyson Court played Loonette the Clown Big Comfortable Sofa from 1992 to 2002
• At age 16, she helped demo, unaware that she was embarking on a decades-long journey as Loonette the Clown.
• Alyson looks back while filming her final season Big Comfortable Sofa when she was six months pregnant with her son.

Alyson Court She was just a teenager when she started playing Loonette the Clown Big Comfortable Sofa.

The early 1990s Canadian children’s series started in a way the actress could never have imagined. What felt like “just a job” at the time has turned into a big part of his life, Court tells PEOPLE.

“At first I was just saying, ‘This is the character I’m playing and I have a life outside of it.’ Then I started interacting with young kids who loved the show,” says the 50-year-old actor. “I realized I had to be on my best behavior, but there was still a long way to go between doing the show and the impact it had on the world.”

In the early days, when Court would be “clowning around” with her castmates in the summer heat, there was no indication that the series would become a phenomenon.

“I remember our first season. We didn’t have air conditioning where we were shooting at the time, and we were shooting in July. The noses we wore in the first season were made of a heavier type of rubber material,” he recalls.

“When we went out for lunch, our lighting director turned the set lights down and it was 104 degrees in the studio. Honestly, it was a lot hotter with all the lights on. We’re trying to do these scenes and our noses hurt. We slide our faces down because the glue melts,” he says, laughing.

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Court played Loonette throughout the show’s original run from 1992 to 1996. There was a long pause as a character until his final season in 2002.

“During the last 13 episodes we were given the green light and there were talks about a feature film, so everyone was engaged in those conversations. We were keeping the property alive,” he explains.

“That’s when the dolls first started appearing. First there were Molly dolls, and everyone wanted a Molly doll. Then books and videos came out. They started making other toys, like Snicklefritz dolls. They even had Loonette dolls, and some of them talked. Loonette dolls, “It was very strange, but it was more about keeping everything going.”

She continues, “When we came back to do season 6 in 2002, I had done the live stage tour at that point and I was pregnant. Doing that season being six months pregnant was also incredible because I can watch those episodes and I was like, ‘There’s my son, he’s been there this season.’ ”

Stepping into motherhood while still keeping Loonette as a part of herself meant a lot to Court.

“I was about to become a mother, and I had so much experience with little kids that I wanted to do it so badly. I wanted to be a part of it because it’s almost like a legacy at this point, right? So , he came back and we did those 13 episodes,” she says.

Court’s son, Blaede, was only 2 months old when he first began to realize that the character and his mother were the same person. He was preparing to work at a charity called. Dreams Take Flight

“The charity is working with Air Canada to take the children Disney World for the day. The only criterion is whether there was something in your childhood that prevented you from going to Disney World (like illness, financial hardship, abuse) and we’ll take those kids with us for the day.”

“I was wearing my costume in a hotel room. My son is on the bed and he’s looking at me (weirdly) because I’m wearing the costume. I said, ‘No, honey’. It’s me, Mom,” she shares as she prepares to appear.

“I remember him looking at me and all of a sudden, you see that you recognize him. When he realizes I’m a mother, he starts smiling,” she continues. “Watching my son put the two together and then get comfortable with me as Loonette was one of the most moving moments.”

When she was a little older, “her father would sometimes put on episodes when I had to go out and go to work. He would watch.” Comfortable Sofa Episodes because he knew it was the Mummy.”

Court also notes how her philanthropic work continues to become more meaningful, especially now that she is a mother herself.

“It changed everything. It’s a heavy thing,” he says of his charitable work, which includes organizations such as. Dreams Take Flight And Make a Wish.

“When I got involved in a lot of charities, it completely sucked me in. I would say it made me a better person, but especially at that age, it took a heavy toll. I continued with charity work more than anything else.”

Court is grateful to see what an imprint Loonette left on fans’ hearts and for the opportunity to see that continue years later.

“It nourishes my soul because people are really kind. They just want to express their love and gratitude. In that moment, you watch them become that little kid again,” she says.

“Especially when we’re taking pictures together, and then I put my nose on it without them noticing, and then they turn and look and they’re gone. They’re stunning little kids again. It was just amazing. To be a part of something that’s had such an impact on people for decades.”

Today, Blaede is all grown up and has a pretty healthy perspective on her mother’s fame.

“She’s the typical person in the sense of, ‘Oh, I don’t want to talk about my mom,’ which is what I wanted. She needs to have her own life and live in her own world, not in my bubble. But I joked with her once that she’s someone I’ll end up with, too.” he was young best winger without stopping. He didn’t know what that meant, but I said, ‘Trust me.’ ”

“Around Christmas, right before the pandemic, I took gifts to the school for their teachers and their stuff. I came to drop them off and he said, ‘Hey, a few of my friends want to meet you,’ and they got mad. Blaede had kind of ignored it in the past, but he was a little dazed and as I was leaving I said to him, ‘ “I told you, he’s the best wingman,” I remember whispering.

While Blaede wasn’t always thrilled with Loonette the Clown, Court scored great ratings for her role in the animated film. Scott Pilgrim.

“I had some exposure to a Canadian cast, which was great. Scott Pilgrim “I was so excited that I could finally be a part of something my son would find cool.”

“It’s funny because he’s so stubborn,” he adds. “She’s very stubborn. She’s also incredibly smart and creative. I can see what she wants; she does what she wants, and I can comment or criticize her and she acts like she doesn’t know what I’m talking about. But then sometimes she does what I suggest, or whatever the case may be.”

“Given the scope of what I do, I know he values ​​my opinion,” Court says, “and I think he’s starting to respect it more.”