If you’ve ever watched young children lose their minds when a giant green dinosaur in a floppy hat takes the stage, you’ve seen the magic of Dorothy the Dinosaur. What parents might not realize is that behind those googly yellow spots sits a rotating cast of performers who have brought the rosasaur to life for over three decades. This article tracks every performer who has slipped into Dorothy’s costume, with particular attention to Emma Watkins—who made history as The Wiggles’ first female member while wearing the suit. You’ll find verified dates, current whereabouts, and the details that separate fact from fan fiction.

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Species: rosasaur · Color: green with yellow spots · Favorite food: roses · TV series run: 2007–2017 · Debut year: 1997

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Green rosasaur with yellow spots, debuted 1997 (Wigglepedia – Fandom)
  • Carolyn Ferrie voiced Dorothy 1996–2001, 2004–2009, 2010–2018 (Wigglepedia – Fandom)
  • Emma Watkins was the first female member of The Wiggles (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Current exact performer name post-2021
  • Ongoing ownership or casting details
3Timeline signal
  • Murray Cook first voiced Dorothy in 1991 (Wigglepedia – Fandom)
  • Emma Watkins departed October 2021 (Wikipedia)
4What’s next
  • Emma Memma character gaining momentum with 2024 releases (Wikipedia)
  • No announced successor as primary Dorothy performer
Fact Detail
Species rosasaur
Introduced 1997
Spin-off series 2007–2017
Signature song Dorothy the Dinosaur
Official Instagram @dorothy_dinosaur

Who is the current Dorothy the Dinosaur?

The Wiggles have not officially announced who currently wears Dorothy the Dinosaur’s suit following Emma Watkins’ departure in October 2021. The group has relied on a rotating cast of dancers and performers for its costumed characters, making the “current performer” question tricky to answer definitively.

Current performer details

Public records show Lauren Hannaford as a verified Dorothy suit performer—she is married to Red Wiggle Simon Pryce and worked as a Wiggly dancer (The Hits NZ). However, whether she remains the primary suit performer post-2021 remains unconfirmed through official channels. The Wiggles’ official website and social accounts have not named a successor.

Recent appearances

Dorothy continues to appear at live shows and in promotional material under The Wiggles’ brand, but the specific individual inside the suit is not publicly identified in current marketing. Fans seeking confirmation will find the gap in official communication notable.

Editor’s note

The Wiggles’ tradition of not publicly naming suit performers creates a gap in verifiable information. We have relied on Fandom wikis and entertainment news outlets for performer history rather than official announcements.

Was Emma ever Dorothy the Dinosaur?

Emma Watkins did perform as Dorothy the Dinosaur. Before becoming the Yellow Wiggle, she rotated through multiple Wiggly Friends roles including Fairy Larissa, Wags the Dog, and Dorothy the Dinosaur as a Wiggly Dancer starting in 2010 (Wikipedia).

Emma Watkins role

Born 21 September 1989, Emma Watkins joined The Wiggles in 2010 and initially performed supporting characters. Her versatility in costumed roles positioned her for the significant transition that followed. In May 2012, The Wiggles announced she would replace founding member Greg Page as the Yellow Wiggle—the first female to hold that position (Wikipedia).

Transition from role

Emma officially became a Wiggle in 2013, serving until her departure announcement in October 2021. Her 11-year tenure included performances as Dorothy before she shifted full-time to the Yellow Wiggle role. Post-Wiggles, she launched the Emma Memma character in 2022, debuting a children’s entertainment brand that incorporates sign language and inclusive dance (Wikipedia).

What to watch

Emma Watkins’ trajectory from Dorothy suit performer to founding Wiggle member illustrates how The Wiggles develops talent internally. Her subsequent ARIA Award win for Best Children’s Album in 2023 for her solo debut shows the career path continues after leaving the group.

Who is dressed up as Dorothy the Dinosaur?

Multiple performers have worn the Dorothy the Dinosaur suit across the character’s history. The role requires both physical performance skill and vocal ability, often handled by different individuals (Wigglepedia – Fandom).

Suit performers history

Documented suit performers include Peter Mackie, Emily Martinez, Megan Bullivant, Ashlene Mendolia, Caterina Mete, and Monica Ramirez according to performer category listings (Wigglepedia – Fandom). Murray Cook’s wife Meg designed the first costume, with the character’s signature look including a white floppy hat with a red rose and white gloves (The Wiggles History Wiki – Fandom).

Behind-the-scenes

The distinction between voice performers and suit performers matters. Carolyn Ferrie handled the majority of Dorothy’s voice work from 1996 through 2018, overlapping with various suit performers. Lauren Hannaford has been identified publicly as a suit performer and dancer, married to Red Wiggle Simon Pryce (The Hits NZ).

How old is Dorothy the Dinosaur from The Wiggles?

Dorothy the Dinosaur debuted in 1997, making the character approximately 28 years old as of 2025. The question of the character’s “age” depends on whether you’re asking about debut date or fictional in-universe age.

Character age

The character lives in a pink and purple house with a rose garden and Rosy Orchestra within The Wiggles’ fictional universe (The Wiggles History Wiki – Fandom). No official in-universe birth year for Dorothy has been established, so the practical answer relies on the real-world debut date.

Debut timeline

Murray Cook first voiced Dorothy in 1991, with Anthony Field briefly voicing the character in 1993 and Emma Buter handling voice duties from 1994–1996 (Wigglepedia – Fandom). The character gained wider recognition after the group’s television exposure in 1997.

Bottom line: Dorothy the Dinosaur is a green rosasaur who has been performed by more than a dozen individuals across voice and suit roles. For parents tracking performer history: Emma Watkins stands out as the most prominent Dorothy performer who later became a primary Wiggle. For collectors: the current performer remains officially unnamed post-2021, which means the role remains fluid in The Wiggles’ operating model without clear public accountability.

Is Red Wiggle married to Dorothy the Dinosaur?

This question reflects fan curiosity about the personal lives of Wiggles performers and their costumed character connections. The short answer is no—Red Wiggle Simon Pryce is married to Lauren Hannaford, who has performed as Dorothy the Dinosaur, not to the character itself.

Wiggles personal lives

Lauren Hannaford, identified by The Hits NZ as a dancer, model, and fitness trainer, performed as a Wiggly dancer and has been photographed in Dorothy the Dinosaur’s suit. She married Red Wiggle Simon Pryce, creating a personal connection between a real performer and the character she played.

Relationships

The Wiggles performers generally maintain public profiles that include their real-life relationships. Simon Pryce (Red Wiggle) and Lauren Hannaford’s marriage represents one of several performer couples within The Wiggles orbit. This personal detail fuels fan questions connecting performers to their characters.

Timeline

Year Event
1991 Murray Cook becomes first voice of Dorothy the Dinosaur
1993 Anthony Field briefly voices Dorothy
1994–1996 Emma Buter voices Dorothy
1996 Carolyn Ferrie begins voicing Dorothy
1997 First appearance with The Wiggles
1998 Featured in The Wiggles videos
2007–2017 Spin-off TV series
2010 Emma Watkins begins performing with The Wiggles
May 2012 Emma Watkins announced as first female Wiggle
2013–2021 Emma Watkins performs as Yellow Wiggle
October 2021 Emma Watkins announces departure
2022 Emma Memma character debut

Clarity check

Three decades of performer history, multiple voice actors, and rotating suit performers create both confirmed facts and genuine gaps in public record.

Confirmed

  • Green rosasaur with yellow spots
  • Debut 1997
  • TV series 2007–2017
  • Carolyn Ferrie primary voice 1996–2018
  • Emma Watkins first female Wiggle, Yellow Wiggle 2013–2021
  • Lauren Hannaford married to Red Wiggle Simon Pryce

Unclear

  • Current exact performer name post-2021
  • Ongoing ownership or casting details
  • Voice performer gaps 2001–2004, after 2018

What people say

Dorothy the Dinosaur is a rosasaur who loves eating all mum’s roses, but she always leaves one for dad.

Wigglepedia – Fandom (song lyric reference)

The actress behind the Dorothy the Dinosaur suit is absolutely stunning—meet Lauren Hannaford, Wiggly dancer and fitness trainer.

The Hits NZ

Related reading: Sesame Street characters · Bluey season 4

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, shapes.inc, ftp.joeegansolicitors.co.uk, concertarchives.org, thehits.co.nz, wiggles.fandom.com, mcdonald.nsw.edu.au

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Frequently asked questions

What is Dorothy the Dinosaur?

Dorothy the Dinosaur is a costumed character from The Wiggles, described as a green rosasaur (rose-eating dinosaur) with yellow spots who wears a white floppy hat with a red rose and white gloves.

What does Dorothy the Dinosaur eat?

Dorothy loves roses, as reflected in her “rosasaur” species name. The signature song describes her eating all mum’s roses while leaving one for dad.

When did Dorothy the Dinosaur first appear?

Murray Cook first voiced Dorothy in 1991, with the character gaining wider recognition when The Wiggles’ television exposure expanded in 1997.

Where can I buy Dorothy the Dinosaur toys?

The Wiggles maintain an official online store featuring Dorothy the Dinosaur merchandise including plush toys, costumes, and clothing items.

What is the Dorothy the Dinosaur song about?

The song introduces Dorothy as a friendly dinosaur who loves roses, includes her signature dance moves, and describes her house with a rose garden.

Who are the Wiggly Friends?

The Wiggly Friends are costumed characters who appear alongside The Wiggles, including Dorothy the Dinosaur, Captain Feathersword, Wags the Dog, and others.

Does Dorothy the Dinosaur dance ballet?

Dorothy’s dance style incorporates various moves, and with Emma Watkins—a trained dancer who began performing at age 3—playing the role, ballet-inspired movements were incorporated into her performances (McDonald College).

For fans of The Wiggles’ history, the takeaway is clear: Dorothy the Dinosaur represents a rare example of a children’s character sustained by dozens of performers across multiple decades. Emma Watkins’ journey from rotating Wiggly Friend to the first female primary Wiggle offers a template for talent development that the group continues to rely on.