Child star Anna Cooke talks about her show The InBESTigators
By Alexandra Heilbron on November 20, 2019 | 104 Comments
Anna Cooke is one of the stars of the new Netflix series The InBESTigators, filmed in Australia. The show follows Maudie Miller (played by Anna), a 10-year-old girl who arrives at a new school. When her classmates — Ezra, Ava and Kyle — discover how good she is at solving mysteries, they decide to start a detective agency called The InBESTigators.
The series, which was nominated for an Australia Academy of Cinema Television Arts (AACTA) award for Best Children’s Program, has recently been renewed for a second season on Netflix.
We contacted Anna in Australia and she graciously agreed to answer some questions about the show and her role in it. ~Alexandra Heilbron
How did you get the role? What did you do for your audition and how many auditions did it take?
I saw a notice in the school newsletter and decided it looked fun. The auditions were fun but I had to learn lots of lines from the show for the audition. I had three or four auditions and most of us didn’t know until the end if we had the parts.
How did you get started as an actor?
This is my first TV show. I was in a school play a couple of years ago, The Little Prince. There were a few of us who shared the title role.
How many episodes did you film for season one?
Loads!
How long does each episode take to film?
The episodes were not all filmed in order so if we had a bunch of scenes, in say the playground, then we would film them in one go, even if they were in different episodes.
Which is your favorite episode and why?
The last one, where they throw me a surprise party. It was great fun to film and Frank Woodley who plays my Dad, cracked us up on set as he is really funny.
On the show, you wear school uniforms complete with a sunhat. Is that standard at Australian schools or just for the show?
For two terms a year, spring and summer we wear sun hats and yes, no hat, no play!
Do all Australian schools have sun shelters like in the episode when Poppy loses her hat?
There is somewhere outside at almost every school where kids with no hats have to sit, maybe under a tree or shade cloth or a sun shelter.
Have you already filmed the second season?
Yes, keep a look out! It starts again in Australia soon.
On the show, your character Maudie is so clever! What do you like best about her?
I like how straightforward Maudie is — even though there are complicated things going on, she always makes everything look simple.
In what ways are you similar or different to Maudie?
I am similar to Maudie in that I don’t really like lots of school yard drama. I also love some of her outfits.
What’s the coolest thing about living in Australia?
Compared to some countries Australia is quite easy-going — the atmosphere is laid-back and people are really nice.
Where is one place in the world you’d most like to visit?
I would like to go to Canada! I have second cousins in Toronto that I would like to visit one day.
Do you want to continue to be an actor when you grow up? If not, what would you like to be?
I would like to be an actor or work with theatrical makeup and clothes, I think that would be heaps of fun.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I attend drama classes which I really enjoy, we read scripts and play games! I also enjoy going to vintage shops looking for cool funky clothes.
Do you have siblings? Do they also act?
I have a brother who is two years older than me but he isn’t into acting.
What’s your favorite movie/TV show?
I really love the Beetlejuice movie and also love shows like Stranger Things and Riverdale.
Is there an actor you’d like to work with/meet?
I would love to meet Lili Reinhart, because of how she shuts down anybody being mean about her body or looks and how she works directly with mental health organizations.
What kind of role would you like to play next?
I would love to be in Beetlejuice or a crazy stage show like that, or maybe starring on a long-running show similar to Friends.
Watch the first season of The InBESTigators, now streaming on Netflix. Photos provided by Jane Cooke. 
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Love this show and Anna is the best on it, she’s my favourite character!
Cutest show ever, can’t wait for the second season.
I would love to meet all of them except I don’t know where they live they also inspired me now I want to act to.
hello my name is isaac im the world biggest fan of you im ten years old the inbestigators are the best show of the world
and im like to meet you at sabah at ranau its a small town but you must stop to kk AKA kota kinabalu meey you at there bye
Hi. Anna. Maudie is supper smart. I love your role in the inbestigators and I also love some of your outfits. I’m 11 and I’m a HUGE fan of the inbestigators . I’d love to meet you some day . You have inspired me into acting. Thank you for showing the world that anyone can do it!!!!!!
Anna is amazing. I hope there’s another season or if not, she’s cast on another show!
i love her
Are they going to put a season three, if so when is it coming out?
I love all characters but Anna is my favorite i hope u make a season 3 i love Australia just that I’ve never been there. I live a long way from Australia i live in Kosovo its really good but there are not many dramatic things i mean i want to sometime meet Anna in person but Australia is so far away oh and by the way my name is Blin. I love Anna.
I hope Anna gets these comments
I hope Anna gets these comments
I hope Anna gets these comments
I hope Anna gets these comments
Actor life coming into my head, 8 years old
Omg I watched the season one and two but I hope they make a season three cuz it’s an amazing show in Netflix plssss make an season three and 4 pls 4 or 5
what her telephone number
my name is william i live in taiwan Taipei
where do you live
call me
ILU ANA
hi Maudie my name is Lola I’m 8 years old and I’m from south Africa your my favourite character in the inbestigaters, your so smart sometimes i dress up like you and I’m so excited to be talking to you.
Hi there I your my favorite character l always watch investigater your the smartest person In there and I’m 7
Me and my sister love this show. We love binge watching the episodes. I would love if you would make a season 3 and 4, that would just be wonderful! Anna your great and if theirs not a third season in role her in another show!
Oh, also I�m 11 and love how great you are, and it just makes like I�m a inBESTigator too! Your just sooooo talented! And keep up the great work to make it real as I said before!
Hello Anna I would like to speak to you I find you beautiful me my name is Ahcene I live in France in Paris I hope that one day we will be able to meet I am 11 years old do you like tennis goodbye
bonjour Anna parle tu francais si oui peut tu me repondre j’ai dix ans et j’amerai te rencontrée
Bonjour Anna je te trouve très belle j’aimerai bien te rencontrée parle tu francais si oui répond moi.je mapelle caleb et j’ai 10
Hello anna dou you speak French.
Hi Anna, me and my siblings have watched The Inbestigators and we just love it! You all are great actors and I would love to meet you one day. I am also 11 years old and I have gotten interested in acting.
I love the show all I think about is the show i’m also ten i”m a boy with long hair (idk why I have long hair as a boy) and I wish I can go to Australia to meet everyone p.s might take tens of years to get there also plz make more seasons…plz
i also live in the U.S.A in New Jersey
es linda es hermosa te quiero conocer
algun dia voy a ir alla a australia y voy a aprender ingles solo para conocerte te amoooooooooo
tengo 12 saludos desde republica dominicana
hello its me…again heres a real question the beach and do you like being inside a lot or outside oh btw these are random questions coming to my mind…. (I need to stop researching about inbestigators every second..I love the show so much I need to get to Australia some how plz.
hello its me…again heres a real question the beach and do you like being inside a lot or outside oh btw these are random questions coming to my mind…. (I need to stop researching about inbestigators every second..I love the show so much I need to get to Australia some how plz.
do you like the beach I meant (I need to get my spelling correct and my grammar…smacks head in the key board trying to think of something.
i love mordie and ezra and i think anna is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good at the role
… why do i check up on this thing almost every day and play games all the times
(video)
Hello. I am a fourth grader at Village Christian Academy . It is in America in North Carolina. I am a huge fan. I have my own detective agency. P.S, I hope Maudie kisses Kyle in season 3.
I just wanted to know is it hard do you like it?
… im freaking out how am i living how
hello! I am Riya and I am 8 and i love the inbestagators. it is my favorite show and i want to meet you sometime. You do such a good job and please forward this to Abby Bergman which is Ava, Aston droomer which is Ezra and jymil smyth secka which is Kyle. Your show is amazing. I cannot say how much i like it but i love it.
Hi Anna if your looking in the comments I have a huge crush on you
I LOVE InBESTigators!
I am a huge fan of Anna because she is very smart. I think the person who plays Kyle should be a little more focused in the show, though. 🙂
I watch this show everyday while I eat my dinner and I am so excited for season 3. I hope this time that Kyle will be a lot more focused. The triple inbestigation was the best episode I have ever watched in your show.
Hello again. My next vacation is to go to Austrailia and visit the inbestigators. I hope I get to meet you soon.
I am really good at inbestigating and I hope I will be a member of the inbestigators
I am really good at inbestigating and I hope I will be a member of the inbestigators
Im going to austrailia when I am older. I hpe you make a season 3. Oh and by the way, I have a crush on you anna.
By the way. I hope Ezra kisses Maudie in season 3.
Anna, you went to a play, so how did you get a role on the InBESTigators ?
I have a son that is a fan, and he wants to be an actor, just like you !
I am 10 years old, I live in america in delaware, but I am moving to pennsylvania in westchester. Goodbye.
hello again your show is amazing and i hope I get to meet you someday
anna do you like golf I do maybe when we meet we can play golf and do some inbestigations.
hi I am 8 years old I live in England I love the show inBESTigators.
it should be good in season 3.
I hope I am going to Australia some day to meet you.
Anna you are AMAZING!!!!!! And you are my favourite
wwwwwwwwwwwowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
That means I really like the show
i am sreya and i m 11 years old . i love this show and my favourite character is maudie who is soo cute and clever and i wish to meet u someday…………..waiting forward for season 3
Hi I am hector and I wish I was on the InBESTigators show and I am in Abu Dhabi I
I wish she was here so I could get here autograph and she is a amzing
I wish she was here so I could get here autograph and she is a amazing
Hey guys it’s me maudie I thank u for comments and say I want to kiss u bob
Hi Maudie Miller i am in the InBESTigators show
Hello its me,Kyle. If you want to play soccer than sign up at soccerscouts.com.
Hello If you want cupcakes then come to my store at binggard avenue
Looking good for season 3
Anna is the best INVBESTIGATOR EVER! She is so talented and such a role model… KEEP BEING AMAZING
I am sure that when they make season 3, I will be in it.
Hi my name is Charles and I really liked the show Im twelve turning 13
I like anna cooke i want to meet her
I barrack for the mighty Collingwood in the afl. Hope Kyle likes it to. can u ask him?
GO PIES!!!
can you make a video of a stolen trumpet?
make the most interesting video yet
season 3 is going to be epic
inBESTigators!!!!!!!!!!!!
Woohoo!!!!
i love watching this
I just love you! I hope there are more episodes of The Inbestigaters!
Me Too
This is going to be the best season ever!
I am going to says one last thing, anna cooke is very good at acting and I wish I was good at acting
Hi,my name is bill and i live in Greece but i would always like to stay in Australia to see you!
Can you tell us your because that’s all I have left to see you !!!!!!
I mean your address
My name is bill
Plz can you tell me your name at Fortnite my name is:WAR_Manos!
can you make season all the way to 10
make 4 or 4 season and im 13
make 3 and 4 and 5 seasons plz im 13 plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Hi my name is Dominic and I just love how they act! I like it so much that I’ve watched all 2 seasons already 12 times and am hoping for a 3rd season. I which to meet you in the future even though I live in America. I would like to say that even though am 9 I would like to say to parents that this is educational and is fun watch! This as inspired me to become a Detective and actor in the future. And again to parents this is educational and is fun to watch! I really hope to see you in the future. My name is Dominic am 9 and I live in America. Investigators I hope your reading this cause I really love the show! Bye bye :).
And I was wondering if there is a way that I can join the act and I know this is a big question, but I if I want to act I might as well start with the show that inspired me. This all am asking to the Investigators.
And I was wondering if there is a way that I can join the act and I know this is a big question, but I if I want to act I might as well start with the show that inspired me.
I just love you! I hope there are more episodes of The Inbestigators! Hoping For The New Release !!!!
I hope you make a season 3. Oh and by the way, I have a crush on you anna.
Hola soy un niño de 10 años que es de Perú y estoy enamorado de Anna Cooke desde que tengo 7 años que fue cuando tenia Anna 10 , Ojala viviera en Australia para conocerte :C Pero sin embargo te veo 24 veces en el dia 😀
She is so awesome at the role
and very nice to
I also like you Anna
I am actually 7
The inbestigators is My favourite show.
I wish you could make twenty season!!!!!
What school did Anna go to, because I think I went to your school… is it Newport lakes primary school
I’ve seen season two
Hi. I like detective cartoons/movies such as- Harry Potter, Spiderman- into the spider verse and of course the series I’ll never forget -inBESTigators. I like Maudie she is very,very intelligent and smart. She makes mysteries look so easy no one can never,ever compete with Maudie. She’s my favourite character. If anyone else will be acting Maudie Miller, that person will never be as good as you. Anna Cooke, she is THE best inBESTigator , don’t tell that to anyone else.
#LoveAnnaCooke#
Byeee!