I couldn't watch Tom and Jerry. The cruelty was too much. I had all these strange images, of tiny animals, all mixed up.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I never got tired of Tom and Jerry, but I did have a dream of doing more with my life than making cartoons.
There was a time when watching a cartoon was a nurturing experience. You would watch a Warner Bros. cartoon, and at the end of it you could probably win 'Jeopardy.'
Steve Irwin did wonderful conservation work but I was uncomfortable about some of his stunts. Even if animals aren't aware that you are not treating them with respect, the viewers are.
I definitely could not write a character that was cruel or unconcerned with animal welfare. For me, not just as a writer but for the person I am, I love animals.
Because I once became so distraught watching the film 'Watership Down,' my parents were happier to let me watch action adventures featuring humans and warriors rather than cute animals.
As an actor, to go and see those shows - great plays like 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' and Clifford Odets's 'Golden Boy' - it's so exhilarating. I'd personally love to perform the role of Jerry in Edward Albee's 'The Zoo Story.' He's a transient, lost soul, and an example of humanity at its rawest.
It was dreadful. They tried to put the little redhead in a cage.
For me, 'Mommy' was about developing very humane characters that would be very credible and endearing and work onscreen.
I used to pretend that I was Tom attacking Jerry, who was drawn on the ball.
There's no better feeling in the world than knowing that my show played a role in stopping animal abuse or alleviating animal suffering.