The behind-the-scenes of the classic video, from Sillywhim herself!

One of my core childhood memories is watchingWee Sing in Sillyvilleand dancing along to the music.

Note:This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Cover of "Wee Sing in Sillyville" featuring two children, an adult in a whimsical costume, a tree character, and a dog

BuzzFeed: I’m so excited to chat!

Let’s start at the very beginning.

How did you initially hear aboutSillyville, and do you remember your audition for this role?

Renee is smiling in front of abstract art on the wall, wearing glasses and a multicolored scarf over a light top

Renee Margolin:I had moved to Eugene, Oregon.

I did theater for years and worked with a ballet company.

I was also in New Mime Circus, and then I decided I wanted to get an agent.

Person in a colorful, striped costume with outstretched arms, standing indoors next to white cabinets and framed photos on the wall

I had band people stay at my home.

When one of my first auditions was forSillyville, I didn’t know anything about it.

I was just going to audition for Betty Bitty Booty.

Group of people in colorful costumes, including clowns and characters with tall hats, gathered around a seated individual with a flower on their shirt

So I’m at the audition.

There are tons of people, and it’s crazy.

And I see David Poulshock!

A woman with curly hair smiles while wearing a white dress with black trim along the collar and sleeves

I said, “David, hi, haven’t seen you so long!

What are you doing here?

“He says, “Well, I’m directing this and part of this team.”

Two people, both dressed in playful, old-fashioned pajamas with suspenders, sit on red chairs. The man holds a newspaper while they talk and smile

And he looks at me, he asks, “Well, you know what?

What are you auditioning for?

““A Bitty Booty.

Two women with curly hair styled in pigtails, wearing playful outfits with ruffled collars, smile in close-up shots

“And he said, “Well, I want you to audition for Sillywhim.”

So the [Sillywhim] audition happened all because I knew David Poulshock.

Sillywhim is such a great character, full of positive energy and a great outlook on life.

Four performers in yellow costumes and pointed hats dance on a whimsical set with colorful balloons and foliage

What was your favorite part about playing her character?I think the fact that she was concerned.

We love this person; let’s get back together again.”

And so the power of that confusion and then helping people get it, it’s magical.

A clay figurine head with wide eyes and an acorn cap lies on a bed of grasses

I rewatchedSillyvillelast night, and it’s amazing how it sticks in your mind.

How long did the video take to film?

It’s been 35 years, but I’m gonna tell you, it took about 10 days.

Four people in whimsical costumes perform in a colorful town set, with houses and a well

It was a quick thing!

I remember an incident that’s kind of funny.

I’m working on this scene.

Two children, dressed in colorful outfits, explore a cave-like room. One woman is in a costume with puffy sleeves and another with large pigtails looks sad

I sit down on the ground, and I sit on a tack!

That’s no fun.

I mean, it hurt, and [director] Dave [Poulshock] is really concerned.

Three people talking in a whimsical, colorful set. The seated person is in a striped costume; the two others are children in casual clothing

I mean, ithurts.So I burst into tears and left the set.

He was concerned because they had such a tight schedule and brought me long-stem roses.

And I said, “Well, David, no big deal.

A woman with curly hair and a flower design on her outfit smiles warmly at a young girl with blonde hair and a young boy with dark hair

I can do this.

We’re going to go on.”

So you just do your professional best.

The world ofSillyvilleis really colorful and fun to look at.

The sets were very cartoon-like, and they were all by Portland artists.

I remember one of the costume designers played Betty Bitty Booty.

The quality of the costumes blew me away.

This was major tailoring and finishing.

They were made beautifully.I liked wearing the colorful costume, but the black-and-white one was just myfavorite.

I just loved that it was a cartoon you could color.

Did you have a favorite costume from the otherSillyvillecharacters?The yellow Spurtlegurgles and the blue Twirlypops.

I love their costumes and also Sillywhim’s magic wand which was probably my favorite thing.

It’s amazing that they were doing magical things without what we have today.

I mean, David Poulshock really came up with tools and technical ways to make magic happen.

Speaking of magic, I thought the use of puppetry brought a uniqueness to the video.

What was it like acting and singing with the puppets?The puppeteers were from another Portland company.

I mean, they really did a magnificent job.

And we had such little time to get it right.

I think that was also my favorite because we did so well on it.

That’s the one I remember the most.

I remember Sillywhim was very spontaneous.

Did you improvise anything, or was it all following the script?

It was just scripted.

There was no real improvisation.

What I brought to it was just my acting and being real.

I think the the whole team of people involved with the acting part was very real.

That’s the part that was really magical, that everybody was top notch actors.

Do you have a personal favorite memory from your time on theSillyvilleset?

Just how hard everybody was working.

Everybody was very professional and really wanted to help David [Poulshock, the director].

Before we wrap up, just a few post-Sillyvillequestions.

Have you watched it over the years?

Do you ever get recognized in public?I used to have the VHS and CDs.

I gave those all away.

She now has her own children, and they’re watching it again.

It was the cutest thing, and we took pictures together.

I left Oregon and worked at my family’s business.

Early on, when I was there, I would stand behind the counter and see moms come up.

They would look at me and say, “Hmm.”

And they would say, “Oh, my God, you’re Sillywhim!

“I would get recognized, and sometimes that still happens.

I don’t have her curls anymore, but you know what?

I’m just so pleased that it’s still so powerful.Can you believe it’s been 35 years?

What are you up to these days?

How has life been?Well, darlin', I’m retired.

I’m living my best life.

It wasn’t just Sillywhim but also the other video characters.

It was at one of the Universal Parks.

We did a whole stage show for two weeks, and that was a lot of fun.

I’m just so charmed by the fact that it’s still so powerful.