LOS ANGELES _ Alyson Hannigan didn't realize it at the time, but a gift her oldest daughter got on her second birthday would one day lead to a job for the award-winning actress. The present was one of the nearly 80 books in the best-selling "Fancy Nancy" series written by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. The books are about a 6-year-old girl who likes to be fancy, from her advanced vocabulary to her elaborate attire.
"The book came with a little nightgown, and she was in our hearts from then on. As soon as I saw that it was going to become a cartoon, I called my agent and said I wanted to be part of it. I would do anything. I would be the dog," Hannigan says.
She got her wish (but not playing the dog) in the animated series debuting on Disney Junior Friday. Hannigan is the voice of Claire Clancy, Nancy's wise and caring mother. The "Fancy Nancy" voice cast also includes: Mia Sinclair Jenness, Rob Riggle and Dana Heath.
As soon as she saw the first script, Hannigan knew the series had captured the heart and spirit of the books in a way that surpassed her expectations. Each episode features two 11-minute stories and includes original songs.
"Nancy is completely unique," Hannigan says. "She celebrates everything fancy because that's what she loves. She loves using big fancy words, so vocabulary is introduced at a young age. Immediately I saw my daughter using those words and it was so exciting to see her actively searching out a wider vocabulary.
"Nancy is so creative. But, she's also a flawed character who makes mistakes and has to learn how to handle those situations."
Hannigan began appearing in commercials at the age of 4 and moved to Hollywood at age 11. During the three decades she's been appearing in TV shows and films, her credits include "Buffy the Vampire" and "How I Met Your Mother." She currently can be seen in "Penn & Teller: Fool Us." Along the way, Hannigan has done voice work on "The Wild Thornberrys," "Rugrats," "King of the Hill" and "Sofia the First."
The California State University, Northridge, graduate with a degree in psychology struggled with the recording sessions early in her career, but that changed when she became a mom. Hannigan's not certain if it was all the hours she spent reading to her daughters, but something clicked and the process became more enjoyable.
She's only felt comfortable with voice work in recent years, but Hannigan has always felt at ease in front of the camera. That comfort has taken her from the most popular vampire soap opera since "Dark Shadows" with "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to the cartoonlike zaniness of "How I Met Your Mother." Toss in her work in the "American Pie" films and Hannigan has a very broad fan base. The addition of "Fancy Nancy" will open her up to some very young TV watchers.
Hannigon jokes there was a time when she could tell when a person was approaching whether they were a "Buffy" or "Pie," fan but that changed as "Mother" crossed over to both groups.
"Now I get 'What do I know you from?' That's the worst. Someone did that to my husband once (her "Buffy" co-star Alexis Denisof) and asked him what had he been in that she had seen," Hannigan says. "He asked her 'What have you watched?' She didn't get the joke."
It looks like Hannigan will get to say she's now known for "Fancy Nancy" as a second season of the animated series was ordered before the first season debut. Not only is the series being shown as part of the Disney Junior lineup, it is also available through DisneyNOW and Disney Junior VOD.
"I am so happy to be part of this show, but even if I wasn't part of it, I am so glad it exists because it is a show I will be happy for my children to watch. We need more shows like this where a parent can relax and know that it's not going to be scary. It's not going to have a character who is influencing my kids in a way I am not happy with," Hannigan says. "It's just a great, wholesome, entertaining show that celebrates being a kid."
Hannigon's not the only one happy with the series. Her daughters, now 9 and 6 years, have been "over the moon" about their mom being part of the "Fancy Nancy" stories that have given them so much joy. Or as Nancy might put it, they are jubilant mom got the job.
