Melanie Zanetti is better known for her voice than her face.
And the actress, who voices Bluey’s mum Chilli Heeler in the hugely popular children’s cartoon Bluey, is now ready to be seen.
Starring in a high fashion shoot for this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine, the 38-year-old says she’s ‘so proud to be part of such a beautiful production’.
Drawn on recent controversy over what critics called a ‘fatphobic’ episode of the show, Melanie was happy to defend the program’s intentions.
‘Obviously it wasn’t intended that way’ she told the publication this weekend.
Melanie Zanetti is better known for her voice than her face. Pictured in Stellar Magazine
‘[They] removed that bit that wasn’t necessary and [weren’t] defensive or reactionary. And that’s a testament to the producers and the team.
‘One of my favourite parts of the show is we have examples of the parents owning their mistakes and apologising. ‘
She added: ‘There are people who disagreed with the removing of [the scene] but we’re trying to look after as many people as possible and be as inclusive as possible.’
In May, ABC agreed to re-cut a controversial episode of the kids show following pressure from viewers.
![The actress, who voices Bluey's mum Chilli Heeler (pictured) in the hugely popular children's cartoon Bluey, is now ready to be seen](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/14/14/76556479-12630595-The_actress_who_voices_Bluey_s_mum_Chilli_Heeler_pictured_in_the-m-29_1697291626085.jpg)
The actress, who voices Bluey’s mum Chilli Heeler (pictured) in the hugely popular children’s cartoon Bluey, is now ready to be seen
![Starring in a high fashion shoot for this week's issue of Stellar Magazine, the 38-year-old says she's 'so proud to be part of such a beautiful production'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/14/14/74030869-12630595-Pictured_Melanie_Zanetti_who_plays_Bluey_s_um_Chilli_in_the_hit_-a-28_1697291611188.jpg)
Starring in a high fashion shoot for this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine, the 38-year-old says she’s ‘so proud to be part of such a beautiful production’
The beloved animated series about a family of dogs landed in hot water with fans over a ‘fat shaming’ scene.
The offending moment, only seconds long, was altered by the show’s producers, Ludo Studios, with the support of the national broadcaster reports TV Blackbox.
The controversy centred around the episode Exercise, in which Bluey’s dad, Bandit decided he needed to get fit, after complaining about his expanding stomach.
Some parents were left disappointed by what they saw as ‘toxic’ messaging.
![Drawn on recent controversy over what critics called a 'fatphobic' episode of the show, Melanie was happy to defend the program's intentions](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/14/14/76556487-12630595-image-a-13_1697291480400.jpg)
Drawn on recent controversy over what critics called a ‘fatphobic’ episode of the show, Melanie was happy to defend the program’s intentions
![The beloved animated series about a family of dogs landed in hot water with fans over a 'fat shaming' scene. The controversy centred around the episode Exercise, in which Bluey's dad, Bandit decided he needed to get fit, after complaining about his expanding stomach](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/14/14/70603277-12630595-The_beloved_animated_series_about_a_family_of_dogs_landed_in_hot-m-12_1697291327719.jpg)
The beloved animated series about a family of dogs landed in hot water with fans over a ‘fat shaming’ scene. The controversy centred around the episode Exercise, in which Bluey’s dad, Bandit decided he needed to get fit, after complaining about his expanding stomach
Critics of the scene said it created anxiety over body image rather than the health benefits of exercise.
Meanwhile, an ABC spokesperson said: ‘The new version provides families with the opportunity to manage important conversations in their own way.
‘As the home of Bluey, the ABC supports the decision to re-edit the program and we have updated the episode on our platforms.’
![Read more in Stellar Magazine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/14/14/76556341-12630595-image-a-10_1697291236499.jpg)
Read more in Stellar Magazine
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