Animal Internet

Animal Internet caught up with Gidget, the scene stealing new yorkie from the movie SEX AND THE CITY, at her home in New York City.  She was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to grant us this exclusive interview.

Your character has gotten a lot of attention because...what’s the best way to put it?
She humps more than a rabbit on shore leave. Yeah, the attention’s been great but it’s also a little scary. Hollywood likes to pigeonhole actors.  If I’m not careful I’ll be offered only these types of roles from now on. Last thing I want is to wind up like Gary Coleman - forced to work TV conventions, charging fans ten bucks for an autographed picture of their leg getting humped.

To be fair, Mr. Coleman doesn’t hump their leg.
That’s not what I heard.

It must be tough not being able to talk in a profession that relies on talking.
Well, you know the old saying, “When God gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Of course, that turns out to be bad advice since dogs hate lemonade. Make something we can’t use. What kind of advice is that? Sure, we could try to sell it but that means acquiring a vendor’s permit and obtaining liability insurance and by the time we sell enough to regain our initial lemons cost-- I’m sorry.  What was the question again?

Never mind.  What it was like filming your scenes?
Very nerve-racking. You’re surrounded by dozens of staring crew members, it’s hot because there’s hundreds of lights and everyone’s attention is focused on your one-eyed Lincoln. Let’s just say it’s not romantic in any sense of the word.

Whose idea was the humping?  Did you come up with that?
That was already in the script. In fact, when the director, Michael Patrick King, offered me the part I turned him down because I wasn’t interested in doing gratuitous sex scenes. When I read the script a second time, however, I realized that the character of Baby could be played much deeper. On the surface she is humping a leg but on a deeper, physiological level she is actually challenging authority. Legs represent many things in the movie—the status quo, the feminine mystique… I imagined Baby as a social commentator taking aim at the fashion industry by shining a light on how they teach humans to value fabric over the needs of the animals those humans care for. Once I came to see the potential complexity of the character I jumped at the chance to play the role.

Who’s the best actor you’ve ever worked with?
Andy Dick.

Tell us about your charity, Friends Of Snuffy.
I’ve always been a big fan of Snuffy Smith.  The hillbillies of southern Appalachia are terribly funny people. Did you know the comic strip’s original name was Take Barney Google, F’rinstance?

What’s this have to do with Friends of Snuffy, the dog rescue site?
Nothing.  I just love the comic strip and it’s hard to fit it into a normal conversation.  When somebody says “Snuffy,” that’s usually the best opportunity I’ll get all day to bring it up.  Okay, back to Friends of Snuffy.  It’s a charity I feel strongly about so I’m helping them to raise money.  It’s a rescue site in the Central New York State area that was founded by music exec Mary Gormley to improve the lives of pets and stray animals through education programs, grants and direct funding.  To find out more go to:  http://www.friendsofsnuffy.com

What’s next?  More movies?
I want to take some time off to do theater.  I’m also busy working with Gucci on a line of purses to carry small dogs around in.  They’ll have leather on the outside and be lined with odor-absorbing plastics to deal with..you know, the poop.  Oh, and you know those wooden dolls you see in the back windows of cars, the ones with the bobbing heads?  We’re working on a version of those shaped like me!  But on mine the back end will move up and down instead.