Dani Harmer reveals it’s ‘really nice’ to play Tracy Beaker now her alter-ego is a mum

She’s reprised her role as the former tearaway teen in a reboot of the much-loved series based on Jacqueline Wilson’s 2018 book

And actress Dani Harmer has told how playing Tracy Beaker once more is ‘really nice’ especially because her character has ‘lost her selfishness’ as a teen and is now a dedicated mother.

Speaking on The One Show in a segment with author Jacqueline, 75, Dani, 32, said that after herself becoming a mum, it’s lovely to see how Tracy has developed as she raises her 11-year-old daughter Jess.

Different: Dani Harmer has told how playing Tracy Beaker once more is ‘really nice’ especially because her character has ‘lost her selfishness’ as a teen and is now a dedicated mother

Fans of the show will remember how Tracy, who lived in a care home, lived without her mother and longed for her to come and take her home.

And in the updated series, My Mum Tracy Beaker, the stroppy teen is now a doting single mother to her daughter Jess.

Speaking on the huge changes in Tracy’s life, author Jacqueline told Dani: ‘For Tracy, her biggest thing as a child was not having a mum being there for her and therefore I thought the biggest thing in her adult life would be to be that mum who was there for her daughter Jess all the time.’

Dani then reflected on her own experiences as a mother, with the star raising four-year-old daughter Avarie-Belle with partner Simon Brough.  

Mum's the word: Speaking on The One Show in a segment with author Jacqueline, 75, Dani, 32, said that after herself becoming a mum, it's lovely to see how Tracey has developed as she raises her 11-yesar-old daughter Jess

Mum’s the word: Speaking on The One Show in a segment with author Jacqueline, 75, Dani, 32, said that after herself becoming a mum, it’s lovely to see how Tracey has developed as she raises her 11-yesar-old daughter Jess

She said: ‘Being a mother myself, it completely changes you. So it’s been really nice to play Tracy and see how she’s lost that selfishness that she once has and she’s all just about Jess. 

‘But at the same time, she hasn’t lost herself. She’s still this fierce, strong female that she’s always been.’

Dani began playing the iconic role of Tracy Beaker in 2002 when she was just 12-years-old.

And the former Strictly star reminisced about playing Tracy when she was younger, and noted how at one point, she didn’t want to be known as Tracy Beaker after being constantly called by her alter-ego’s name.

Poor Tracy: Fans of the show will remember how Tracy, who lived in a care home, lived without her mother and longed for her to come and take her home (pictured in throwback show still)

Poor Tracy: Fans of the show will remember how Tracy, who lived in a care home, lived without her mother and longed for her to come and take her home (pictured in throwback show still)

Purpose: For Tracy, her biggest thing as a child was not having a mum being there for her and therefore I thought the biggest thing in her adult life would be to be that mum who was there for her daughter Jess all the time'

Purpose: For Tracy, her biggest thing as a child was not having a mum being there for her and therefore I thought the biggest thing in her adult life would be to be that mum who was there for her daughter Jess all the time’

She told Jacqueline: ‘When I was younger, I used to get called Tracy a lot more than I got called Dani. At one point I was like “oh, can I just not be Tracy, just for a minute!”.

To which Jaqueline replied: ‘It must be difficult when people do expect you to behave like Tracy, but a lovely surprise when they realise, no actually, Dani’s not a bit like that!’

Dani then noted how she’s different from her character, adding: ‘We’re kind of completely opposite actually and that’s why I love playing her.

‘I loved playing her as a kid because I got to be naughty and I really wasn’t allowed to be naughty in my house. So it was great!’ 

That's my girl: Dani then reflected on her own experiences as a mother, with the star raising four-year-old daughter Avarie-Belle with partner Simon Brough (pictured in December)

That’s my girl: Dani then reflected on her own experiences as a mother, with the star raising four-year-old daughter Avarie-Belle with partner Simon Brough (pictured in December)

Character: 'Being a mother myself, it completely changes you. So it's been really nice to play Tracy and see how she's lost that selfishness that she once has and she's all just about Jess'

Character: ‘Being a mother myself, it completely changes you. So it’s been really nice to play Tracy and see how she’s lost that selfishness that she once has and she’s all just about Jess’

Frustrations: 'When I was younger, I used to get called Tracy a lot more than I got called Dani. At one point I was like "oh, can I just not be Tracy, just for a minute!" (pictured in throwback show still)

Frustrations: ‘When I was younger, I used to get called Tracy a lot more than I got called Dani. At one point I was like “oh, can I just not be Tracy, just for a minute!” (pictured in throwback show still)

In the reboot based on Jacqueline Wilson’s 2018 book, Tracy is a single mother to daughter Jess, played by Emma Maggie Davies, as the duo try to ‘scrape by financially’. 

Yet their lives are transformed by Tracy’s new rich footballer boyfriend, Sean Godfrey, played by Jordan Duvigneau. 

Sean, who is recently retired and has always admired Tracy since they were young, wants to whisk the mother and daughter away to his lavish mansion.

Then: Dani began playing the iconic role of Tracy Beaker in 2002 when she was just 12-years-old

Now: Dani is reprising her role but Tracy is now a mum to a daughter Jess

Then and now: Dani began playing the iconic role of Tracy Beaker in 2002 when she was just 12-years-old  

All grown up! In new show My Mum Tracy Beaker, Dani, who played the former tearaway teen in the original 2002 series, will reprise the character who is now in her thirties (pictured with on-screen daughter Jess and footballer love interest Sean in show still)

All grown up! In new show My Mum Tracy Beaker, Dani, who played the former tearaway teen in the original 2002 series, will reprise the character who is now in her thirties (pictured with on-screen daughter Jess and footballer love interest Sean in show still) 

But with things starting to go ‘pear-shaped’, it’s up to Tracy’s 11-year-old daughter Jess to save the day. 

The reboot will be shown from the perspective of Jess and coincides with the 30th anniversary of Jacqueline Wilson’s original 1991 book The Story Of Tracy Beaker. 

My Mum Tracy Beaker will also see original show regulars Lisa Coleman, who plays Tracy’s foster mum Cam, Montanna Thompson, who plays Tracy’s nemesis Justine Littlewood, and Ruth Gemmell, who plays Tracy’s estranged mother Carly Beaker. 

Celebrate: The reboot will be shown from the perspective of Jess and coincides with the 30th anniversary of Jacqueline Wilson's original 1991 book The Story Of Tracy Beaker

Celebrate: The reboot will be shown from the perspective of Jess and coincides with the 30th anniversary of Jacqueline Wilson’s original 1991 book The Story Of Tracy Beaker