Former Wiggles star Emma Watkins has revealed how she ‘burned through’ her savings after leaving the iconic kids group in 2021.
The 35-year-old became the first female Wiggle after putting on the yellow skivvy in 2012 and replacing founding member Greg Page.
Speaking to Osher Günsberg on his Better Than Yesterday podcast, Emma revealed that her decision to leave the Wiggles to create her new Emma Memma character came at quite the cost.
Osher asked Emma if she did ‘a financial inventory’ before embarking on her solo venture.
‘I feel like the inventory has only happened more recently to see how much money we have burned through,’ Emma said.
According to Woman’s Day, Emma was paid a reported $750,000 per year for her role as the Yellow Wiggle.
Wiggles star Emma Watkins has revealed how she ‘burned through’ her savings after leaving the iconic kids group
She went on to explain that after leaving the group in October 2021, she set about creating the Emma Memma character as well as going back to full-time study, which proved to be a drain on her finances.
‘When I left The Wiggles I actually went back to full time study,’ Emma explained.
‘The whole premise was I was going to finish my PHD, that became the whole focus – but of course that wasn’t bringing in any revenue.’
Emma debuted her own children’s entertainment character Emma Memma in 2022, winning an ARIA for Best Children’s album in 2023.
The character was designed to incorporate elements of song, dance and sign language, which is intrinsic to Emma’s completed PhD from Macquarie University, exploring artistic integrations of sign language and dance for children’s screen media.
‘If it [Emma Memma] wasn’t successful [after 12 months], or we hadn’t got any bites or potential work after that time I’d have to stop it,’ she said.
‘Only at the end of 12 months did we start to get some bites for the business. Which put us in a tricky spot because then you have to put in more cash to go into year two.’
Aside from Emma Memma, the Wiggles star has certainly not been resting on her laurels.
Speaking to Osher Gunsberg on his Better Than Yesterday podcast recently, Emma revealed that her decision to leave the Wiggles to create the Emma Memma character had come at quite the cost. Emma (second left) is pictured with (from left) Simon Pryce, Lachlan Gillespie, and Anthony Field
She went on to explain that after leaving the group in October 2021, she set about creating the Emma Memma character as well as going back to full-time study, which proved to be a drain on her finances
Emma has also branched out of the children’s entertainment space to appear on the likes of The Masked Singer, The Amazing Race Australia, Lego Masters Australia and the ABC series Teenage Boss: Next Level.
Her turn on the 2023 season of The Amazing Race, competing alongside sister Hayley netted Emma an equal first place alongside former Voice host Darren McMullen and singer Alli Simpson’s teams.
She also tied the knot with husband Oliver Brian in 2022.
Emma told Daily Mail Australia in October that she’s never had more creative flexibility since leaving the Wiggles, given the iconic outfit’s rigorous touring schedule.
‘Oh, I feel like it’s been such an interesting three years where I have a lot more flexibility that I’ve been able to do lots of different projects which I didn’t really get a chance to do before because we were really busy touring,’ she said.
‘I I kind of think back in the last three years I’m a little bit in shock sometimes when I think about what we’ve done.
‘It’s just been a dream. Honestly, the last three years has been really special.’
Speaking with Stellar in September, she admitted that her departure from The Wiggles two years ago came with immense guilt.
‘Only at the end of 12 months did we start to get some bites for the business. Which put us in a tricky spot because then you have to put in more cash to go into year two,’ she said
Emma became the first female Wiggle after putting on the yellow skivvy in 2012 and replacing founding member Greg Page
‘In the pandemic, we weren’t touring, and I thought maybe I wouldn’t disappoint as many children’ she said.
‘But even though I had left during that time, I still disappointed children. So I am sorry to all the children at that time.’
Emma went on to say that some of her fans have followed her over to her new projects.
‘The parents will most likely say, “We actually had a ticket to come and watch you in 2021 and the pandemic happened. So we were refunded and then we were booked to see the next one and then you weren’t there”,’ she said.
‘”So now we’re coming to watch you [as Emma Memma] because this is our first time that we’ve been able to see you live”.’
‘That’s a beautiful story, too. And that story is still playing out’.
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