Kathy Mullen

Kathy Mullen was chosen to perform the key role of Kira in The Dark Crystal.
"It was 1981, and we were about to start shooting The Dark Crystal. This was going to be the big one, the art piece, the 'real' thing. In line with that idea we, of course, had to do 'real' acting with our puppet characters. To that end, Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and I assembled in the living room of Jim's house in London one Saturday afternoon. Frank, who was officially co-directing with Jim on this project, was intent on getting 'real' acting from Jim's and my puppet characters via us doing the acting ourselves.
"This may not seem so odd to anyone who does not know the people involved, but it was intensely uncomfortable. Jim, who never 'acted' without a wacky foam-and-fleece substitute on his arm, was to actually try to do a fairly soppy, sentimental scene with me-an actual nonfoam, nonfleece actress. Frank thought it would be a really good way to get to the core of the scene and discover our true characters. So we tried to improvise around the scene. We tried-and failed.
"In retrospect, as intensely embarrassing as it was at the time, it was probably one of the most funniest moments of my Muppet life. Had any of our colleagues been flies on the wall, they would have fallen on the floor clutching their stomachs in helpless laughter. As it was, we kept our awkward dignity to the end, when Jim graciously bid us good-bye, saying he felt we had accomplished a great deal. He was kind that way."

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