This article first appeared in <\/em>Radio Times magazine<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n The toys are back in town for Toy Story 5<\/a>, and Jessie the cowgirl has a major role to play, as the gang face a new technological threat in the form of snazzy kids’ tablet Lilypad.<\/p>\n Here, Radio Times<\/a> speaks to the voices of Jessie and Lilypad, Joan Cusack and Greta Lee, about what’s in store in the latest entry of the beloved Pixar series.<\/p>\n Toy Story 5 is very much Jessie\u2019s story?<\/strong><\/p>\n JOAN CUSACK<\/strong> It\u2019s Jessie versus tech, the most important issue of our generation. Isn\u2019t it wild that they made it about that?<\/p>\n In Toy Story 2, we learnt that Jessie was donated by her first owner Emily, leaving her deeply hurt. Did you always feel there was more to explore?<\/strong><\/p>\n JOAN<\/strong> I felt like there was room for that, but I also feel like Toy Story is in very good hands, so whatever they do is going to be great, but I was so surprised when they said it was going to be Jessie\u2019s story. It was so exciting, because it was girl power and girls\u2019 stories.<\/p>\n Jessie thinks Bonnie is going to abandon her like Emily did and calls herself \u201cuseless\u201d in the film. I feel like Woody and Buzz would never say that…<\/strong><\/p>\n JOAN<\/strong> That self-doubt, that\u2019s a gal thing, but also I thought they captured really well the cruelty that girls can show to each other.<\/p>\n Completely, the scene where Bonnie is bullied by her \u201cfriends\u201d for still playing with toys is so sad.<\/strong><\/p>\n JOAN<\/strong> I was so shocked by that, and it was so powerful.<\/p>\n GRETA LEE<\/strong> Her friend group, yeah… It was slightly triggering for me actually. It reminded me of some things \u2013 just being a child and friendship, and navigating all of that.<\/p>\n JOAN<\/strong> How hard it is and the girl groups and being left out… but I do remember having a couple of friends where we really laughed hard together. It was the best feeling ever.<\/p>\n What were your favourite toys growing up?<\/strong><\/p>\n GRETA<\/strong> I was one of those kids who would do mash-up hybrid toys. I would break them apart and build new ones, like make a Minotaur of toys, a half-Barbie, half-Cabbage Patch Kid!<\/p>\n So you were essentially Sid from the first Toy Story with his mutant toys!<\/strong><\/p>\n GRETA<\/strong> This is exposing of my character…<\/p>\n JOAN<\/strong> How were they stuck together?<\/p>\n GRETA<\/strong> Tape, I don\u2019t know, string, whatever I had…<\/p>\n Do you still have them?<\/strong><\/p>\n GRETA<\/strong> No, I don\u2019t… I don\u2019t sleep with them every night.<\/p>\n JOAN<\/strong> There was a Barbie head that you could put make-up on. It didn\u2019t stick that well, so you had to put on a lot of blue [make-up], and then it looked horrible, but whatever.<\/p>\n Toy Story 5 is about people mattering at different points in our lives. Who is someone who has made a big impact on you?<\/strong><\/p>\n GRETA<\/strong> Joan. No, really. I went to Northwestern, and Joan, I remember when we first met, I called you Joan of Evanston [the city in Illinois where Cusack is from and where Northwestern is located], because I\u2019d been following you and your career for so long, truly.<\/p>\n JOAN<\/strong> I can\u2019t believe you said me!<\/p>\n What about you, Joan?<\/strong><\/p>\n JOAN<\/strong> When I was younger, I did these theatre games at this place, and we would do improv. I remember being with those people and laughing so hard. That\u2019s always stuck with me \u2013 that community that\u2019s totally safe and fun. I don\u2019t have an improv group any more.<\/p>\n GRETA<\/strong> I think it\u2019s just finding people to play with. Even as adults, that\u2019s still what we\u2019re all after. We\u2019re like Bonnie, we\u2019re still doing imaginative play and finding the right buddies to do it with us.<\/p>\n JOAN<\/strong> Yes, I totally agree! Acting affords that if you get the right group of people.<\/p>\n The latest issue of <\/em>Radio Times<\/em><\/strong> is out on Tuesday \u2013 <\/em>subscribe here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Toy Story 5 is released in UK cinemas on Friday 19 June 2026. <\/strong>The first four films in the Toy Story franchise are available to watch now on Disney+ \u2013 sign-up to Disney+ from \u00a34.99 a month<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Check out more of our <\/strong>Film<\/strong><\/a> coverage or visit our <\/strong>TV Guide<\/strong><\/a> and <\/strong>Streaming Guide<\/strong><\/a> to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to <\/strong>The Radio Times Podcast<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/TOYSTORY5-ONLINE-USEt950113npub.pub16.282-63927bd-e1770311648976.jpg?quality=90&webp=true&fit=325,216 "\\"TOY")
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