From Stray to Star: Rescue Dog Bobby Stars in “Cruella”
A dog saved by Cruella de Vil? Rescue dog Bobby (aka Buddy in the new feature film “Cruella”) certainly got a new lease on life thanks to the eponymous villian.
Bobby’s Backstory
While living on the streets of Cyprus, a charity discovered darling Bobby searching for food and contacted Hollywood animal trainer Julie Tottman.
Just months later, Bobby found himself training for film roles. Tottman led him to auditioning for the role of his lifetime, as Estella’s trusty sidekick Buddy.
“I truly believe one of the great loves of my life is the dog Buddy who is played by the dog Bobby, who was a rescue dog and one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met,” said “Cruella” star Emma Stone in a Reuters article of the trusty sidekick. Her character Estella rescues Buddy from a dumpster when they are both young age.
Tottman, who often saves strays for film roles, rescued Bobby when he was two. She realized his tremendous star quality right away, and she would know. Tottman also trained Hermione’s cat Crookshanks and Hagrid’s dog Fang in the Harry Potter series as well as all of the mail-delivering owls. Even the dalmations in the 1996 live-action remake of “101 Dalmations” received training from Tottman.
Bobby is one of the easiest rescue animals I have worked with. He’s so natural, he picks the acting up and he thrives doing it,” Tottman said in a recent interview with The Mirror.
“You get a bit more on set from a rescue animal because it’s like they have seen the bad and are so grateful, and they love and adore you for saving them,” she added to The MIrror.
Bobby’s Starring Role as Cruela’s Trusty Sidekick
Estella, and her more evil-ego Cruella, often relies on Buddy throughout the storyline of the new “Cruella.” He provides moral support, helps her to heist a family heirloom and saves Cruella from certain death.
“She falls on the floor, and they wanted him pulling on the ropes. He really did untie her – obviously I tied it in a dog-friendly way but he was pulling it apart, tugging on it,” Tottman said in the Mirror article.
Cruella Released Today on Disney+
“Cruella” released at midnight on Disney+. To stream the movie, you need a valid Disney+ account. The film can be purchased for $29.99 within the app.