Crocodile Hunter's daughter inspires students
March 10, 2010
Brendan Kennedy
STAFF REPORTER
Although most of the audience had not been born when the first three movies in the Free Willy franchise were released, they seemed excited to see the latest instalment, which was previewed Tuesday at the Toronto Zoo.
The excitement probably had more to do with the presence of the movie's young starlet, 12-year-old Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, and accomplished television host and wildlife conservationist in her own right.
"She was really inspirational," said Heba Shahead, 10, one of about 100 Bendale Junior Public students who met Bindi at the screening of Free Willy 4: Escape from Pirate's Cove.
In the film, which also stars Beau Bridges, Bindi plays the role of Kirra Cooper, whose South African grandfather owns an aquatic theme park on the verge of bankruptcy. Fortunes change when a vicious storm traps a baby orca in the park's seaside lagoon.
Bindi, who first appeared on TV in her father's arms when she was only 2 weeks old, has followed in her famous dad's footsteps by hosting her own wildlife documentary show on the Discovery Kids! network.
Bindi the Jungle Girl premiered in 2007, earning Bindi a Daytime Emmy.
As the self-described "Australian Sheila" answered questions from the adoring crowd, she grinned widely with the same gregarious charm and excitement as her famously energetic father, the celebrated TV personality and wildlife enthusiast who was killed by a stingray while taping a documentary in 2006.
"He taught me so much," Bindi said, adding that her father is still her hero.
The audience had the chance to ask questions of the animal lover, who surprised them when asked about her favourite creature.
"I love crocs and snakes," Bindi said. "But my favourite animal is the echidna."
She went on to explain that the animal, native to Australia, is a combination of a porcupine and a platypus, and is a rare example of a mammal that lays eggs.
"She was unlike how I thought celebrities would be," said Ilakkiyan Jeyakumar, 10, who added that he was surprised by how "real and genuine" Bindi was.
Toronto Star