Actress Nicky Whelan is such a superfan of the “Star Wars” franchise that she named her adorable dog after wise Jedi Master Yoda.
The 34-year-old got her start in showbiz in her native Australia, hosting several programs before landing a coveted role on the country’s hit soap opera “Neighbours” in 2006. Once she crossed the ocean, she started landing roles on American television shows like “Scrubs” (appearing as Maya in the final season), “Franklin & Bash” (as the recurring Charlie) and “Matador” (as main character Annie Mason), and in U.S. films (“Hollywood and Wine,” “Hall Pass” “Paranormal Movie” and “The Wedding Ringer”).
Right now, the petite beauty is starring as Laura Mitchell in the Crackle television series “Chosen,” which will premiere its fourth season in 2016, according to Variety.
You may also recognize her from George Clooney’s new Nespresso commercials. Whelan is in the ads featuring Jack Black, which can be seen HERE and HERE.
Next year is looking to be a good one for the animal lover. She plays Naomi in the indie psychological thriller “Rebirth,” which will be exclusively available from Netflix in 2016, she’ll appear in one episode of the upcoming Fox series “Second Chance,” which premieres Jan. 13, and will guest-star in Season 5 of Showtime’s “House of Lies” as Don Cheadle’s girlfriend.
Whelan — who recently turned to the dark side by dying her hair brown — told Maxim that she eats “obscene amounts of chocolate.” Hopefully, she keeps her favorite treat away from Yoda because it is toxic to many animals, especially dogs.
What does Yoda like? Read Headlines & Global News’ exclusive interview with his owner Whelan to find out!
What was it about Yoda that you were drawn to?
Growing up in Australia, we always had bullmastiffs. I’ve always loved the squishy face of bulldogs, bullmastiffs and French bulldogs. He was the weakest out of the litter — the runt and the slowest — but he came straight over to me and fell asleep on my lap. I instantly connected with him. His nature is very kind and he’s a happy dog.
What are some of Yoda’s favorite things to do?
French bulldogs are known for sleeping on top of their owners, so we take naps during the day and he sleeps on top of me wrapped around my neck. We also take two very big walks for an hour every day. He’s so cool! He, basically, comes everywhere with me, including on set and in my trailer. He has a playdate nearly every day with other dogs. It’s quite a production actually, but I love every minute of it.
Are there any similarities between your personalities?
I think when you get close to an animal, they sync up with your energy. We have a fantastic routine when we are at home and, even traveling, he understands the process of the trailer and everything that needs to happen. He’s like my little best friend.
If Yoda could tell us one secret about you, what would he tell us?
When we do our laundry together, we sit on the washing machines and I tell him about my day. [Laughs] He looks at me with such interest, clearly not understanding one word. God bless him.
Tell us about your very first pet.
Like I said earlier, we always had bullmastiffs in our family. My first personal pet was a rabbit, Tinkerbell. It lived for seven years and would actually bounce around in the garden with our bullmastiffs. We had birds, turtles…. I had a beautiful python, Vegas, at one stage.
You are working on so many projects. What are you most excited about and why?
All the projects I’ve been filming this year are so different — they’ve all been a challenge and an adventure. Working on “House of Lies” with Don Cheadle was an incredible experience. I got to work with Nicolas Cage again in a film directed by Paul Schrader called “Dog Eat Dog.” Willem Dafoe was there also. It’s always an absolute pleasure to be in the company of A-list actors who are so talented and kind.
What would you really like to accomplish in your career?
I enjoy the consistency of working. I believe in taking on new challenges and new jobs all year, either on television shows or in movies. To be living in Hollywood and actually working and waking up feeling good is the biggest accomplishment truly!
Anything else you would like to add about Yoda?
I really do believe that everyone deserves to be loved and adored while we are on this planet, especially our animals. I really believe that we are responsible for their happiness and health and livelihood. They have as much right to be here as us. Having little Yoda in my life reminds me to stop and smell the roses — or, in his case, rub his belly.
For more on Nicky Whelan, visit her on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
