Finding Dory's Kaitlin Olson Chats About Humor, Family and Whale Life #FindingDoryEvent

Sometimes you’re really surprised when you sit down for an interview with someone, and when I met Kaitlin Olson, who plays “Destiny” in Finding Dory, it was one of those times. I haven’t seen the television show she stars in, so I really had no idea who she was as a person, or any idea what kind of personality she had. After our interview concluded, it was clear to me as to why she landed the role of Destiny in Finding Dory…she was an absolute delight!

Photo Credit: Sara Lundberg / BudgetSavvyDiva.com

So here’s a little insight into Kaitlin’s take on the movie, and a little evidence as to why she’s so freaking awesome!

We asked: What was your favorite scene?

I liked all of the scenes with Tiny Dory, that little baby Dory was so cute, her voice, I was like get out of here. That’s why I love Pixar movies so much, you can truly get emotional when you’re watching them. Like they’re funny and they’re fun to have in the background if your kids are watching a movie but I actually am invested in the movie […]. She’s just so sweet, all that stuff I thought was really sweet because it moved me.

We asked: What is your favorite characteristic of Destiny?

I like that she can’t swim well and that she’s imperfect, there’s just something so great about that. About all of these characters, there’s something imperfect about all of them, in that they still are making it happen and- and helping each other out. That’s what I like about her most I think.

FINDING DORY. Pictured (L-R): Destiny and Dory. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Do your kids enjoy it when you speak whale to them?

I try not to speak whale as often as possible [laughing] because I had to do it so much, but Andrew [Stanton] and Lindsey [Collins] were so funny. At the end of every session they were like, sorry but we just need a little bit more whale. Sorry, sorry, sorry, I’m like okay, I just feel so dumb doing it [laughing]. So no I haven’t – and they haven’t asked, I’m sure they will someday.

We asked: How much training did you do for your whale?

I didn’t do any, yeah we can all do it.

We asked: Why was it important for you to take on this role? What attracted you to it?

I think Pixar movies are amazing, they really, truly are my favorite kids’ movies, Wall-E, Toy Story all of them, they’re just amazing movies, they’re sweet, they have good messages. When I found out about the project, before I even found out what kind of character it was going it be, instantly I was like yeah-yeah-yeah yeah-yeah-yeah – anything yes. Because I’m on a show that’s for adults, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is not something we let our children watch, [laughing]

I was really excited to do a kids’ movie. At the time I had one baby and I was pregnant with my second one, so it has been four years, now that little one is four and he came to the premiere last night, I know it was pretty cool. I wanted to do something they could watch.

We asked: This is an iconic movie- your grand children will see it- what does that mean to you?

I seriously feel so incredibly honored to be a part of this movie for that reason. It’s a quality project. I feel like I’m repeating myself, but all the Pixar movies now they really relate to adults and children. I’m really focused on movies and shows that you want to sit down and watch with your family, because that’s just where I am in my life now too. I remember going to the movie with my family, it was like kind of of a special thing for us. We didn’t go very often.

And sitting down together on Thursday nights to watch Cheers, you know what I mean. And it’s important to me to find and work on things where we can all kind of get excited and watch together. So I just feel just incredibly honored to be a part of it for that reason, I believe in Pixar’s model and I really love this movie and I think it’s going to be around for a while.

We asked: What lesson about friendship does Destiny’s and Dory’s relationship relate to kids and adults as well?

Well working together for one thing and that family is really what you make of it. If you don’t have one, you can create one with with good people around you, which is really amazing. The just keep swimming thing – it’s a wonderful thing for everybody to keep in mind. Nobody has a perfect life, nobody is perfect, and that’s okay. I’m specifically dealing with that with one of my sons who’s just a perfectionist.

And he gets so upset, I mean even the Legos will fall apart and it’s not- and it really is the end of the world, and he feels personally like he is a terrible person. [Laughing] it’s like the Legos fell apart. That’s like a theme of his whole life and I’ve been trying to tell him for a long time, nobody is perfect I promise and he does not believe me, he really thinks he’s supposed to be. So that’s a message in this movie that really resonates for me personally- it’s you don’t have to be perfect. No- and there’s no such thing.

We asked: Other than Little Dory, who is your favorite character and why?

My sons and I really love the seal and the sea lion who are screaming all the time [LAUGHTER] but, Becky and Gerald probably – I would have to pick Becky and Gerald, they’re great.

The truly hilarious thing about this for me is that I absolutely loved Gerald and Becky as well! My friend and I – the one who took all of these fantastic photos of the cast as we interviewed – we talked about that after we watched the movie. Gerald cracked me up like no tomorrow, he was so dumb and goofy, he was the perfect character!

Now, I have this thing, where I always assume that a comedic actor must find humor pretty important in their everyday life…I mean, if someone makes people laugh for a living, they have to be pretty funny in their normal lives, right? I was happy that someone asked Kaitlin this question during our interview because her answer was on point! Or as the kids say, “on fleek.”

We asked: What role does humor play in your life?

It’s number one [she’s laughing] well patience is number one and then humor. Yeah, it’s huge. I’m constantly, you know, at the end of a hard day, it’s just been like, why couldn’t you have just laughed when he wrote on the wall, rather than… I think it’s of the utmost importance. It’s a huge part of my life. Our set and our Mick set will be filled with people who are kind to each other and funny, because we’re all putting in all these hours and having a gigantic long day.

You don’t want to hang out with people who are filled with drama and entitlement issues and it’s just- well making TV shows and movies – it’s important to me but it’s not that important. So yeah parenting – as long as I can be a total goofball and they think I’m a goofy idiot, I’m perfectly happy with that.

Finding Dory hits theaters on June 17, get your tickets now!

About Finding Dory

Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory” reunites everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale? Directed by Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”) and produced by Lindsey Collins (co-producer “WALL•E”), the film features the voices of Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O’Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton.

You can catch the FINDING DORY movie trailer here – it will make you laugh!