And the second, to Ellen DeGeneres.
In the 12 years sinceFinding Nemocame out, did you worry about her?
ELLEN DeGENERES:No.
Credit: Disney/Pixar; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
I realized it was just a movie.
[laughs] I didnt really worry about her.
I thought about what would happen if we do a sequel, what the journey would be for her.
I wondered if she would somehow get memory back.
When he called me finally, 10 years later, I thought, Well, thats a good sign.
And the first thing he said to me was, Uncle.
And I knew that we were doing it.
He says this call was even shorter than his first pitch to you forNemo.
It was a great experience the first time around.
The timing of that.
It wasnt that it brought my career back, but I wasnt working at the time.
That will always mean something to me, that he believed in me that much.
Did a part of you want to help fill in some of the blanks in Dorys story?
There was really nothing but trust.
I mean, the story is the story and I liked what it was.
I do whats written and then I also go off in different directions and thats really a fun experience.
How quickly did you fall back into the character?
Its very easy for me to do her.
It really did surprise me how easy it was for me to be her again.
Its not that I felt pressure about it, but it gave me more to do with the acting.
Especially when its a fish.
I love a challenge like that.
What did you see of the power ofFinding Nemoin the 13 years since the film debuted?
All I know is that parents thank me and curse me.
Its the kind of film that their kids watch over and over and over again.
I know that theres an enormous amount of sales ofFinding Nemocompared to other films.
So its just a powerful journey.
What about the staying power of Dory in particular?
Just because she wants to, just because she just keeps swimming, just because she just keeps going.
I think theres an anticipation and an excitement about it that I dont know how to explain.
Theres just something that taps into the ethos.
Do you have any favorite piece of Dory merchandise that youve kept in your office?
[Laughs] No, but I think this time around I will.
Theres a Dory cereal out there right now, and Dory Band-Aids, and Dory Popsicles.
My nieces have a Dory stuffed fish but I think thats about it.
There are lots of Dory things out there, so Ill take the most important.
