Kate McKinnon’s new animated movie, Leap, opens Friday. The movie stars Maggie Ziegler and Kate voices Regine/Mother Superior. As part of the promotion, Buzzfeed asked her to answer a jarful of viewer questions and to do so with puppies. I’ve included the video at the bottom. It’s not an earth-shattering interview or anything but oh my gawd, I am starting a petition that all interviews must be conducted as the interviewee negotiates a bunch of baby animals. I am posting some of the questions and answers here because watching it, between Kate and PUPPIES, it’s too distracting. But watch it, seriously – you deserve it.

Has anyone ever confronted you about your impersonation of them?
KM: I have only had positive interactions in relation to my impressions of people, which I’m happy because I do them with love and I hope that the people who I do them of really like them. 

How is your ‘son’ Nino [McKinnon’s cat] doing?
KM: My son Nino, who I hope is not watching this because he would not like to see me fawning over some [whispers] dogs, he’s doing very well. Even though it is very hot in the summer, and he doesn’t love that.

What advice do you have for someone to go after their dreams like you have?
KM: You’ve gotta believe in yourself, and you just have to work harder at it than you’ve ever worked at anything before in your life. And if you keep doing that and keep believing in yourself, great things do happen. You just have to work super hard, and if you have a passion, that’s the most beautiful thing in life, and you just have to bust out and do it, baby! My passion used to be comedy, but now it is these four puppies exclusively.

If you were young Dana Scully for a day, what would you tell Fox Mulder?
KM: Can we have lunch, please? Can we stop and eat? We never eat, have you noticed that?

What was it like working with Maddie Ziegler in Leap?
KM: Oh my goodness. Maddie Ziegler is the most amazing dancer I’ve ever seen, and I’m so obsessed with her. I was obsessed with her even before she did her first Sia video. And so I was so excited that she was doing this, because I’m so obsessed with her as an artist, and she’s so young and it’s crazy that she’s such an amazing innovator.

What’s the backstory behind the salute that you always do?
KM: That’s an interesting question! There is no backstory. I just like to salute, and I guess it became a thing.

What’s the most difficult part about doing an animated film?
KM: I think, you know, sometimes you don’t get to — you’re not in the room with the people you’re acting against. And sometimes you’ve done your parts on different days, so sometimes you don’t get to see who you’re acting against.

[From Buzzfeed]

I’d forgotten that Kate never received her Emmy. One of her team grabbed it for her and she never saw it again but they send her pics of it tucked in bed or with various people holding it. I bet she finds that preferable to having the actual thing, I would. I also somehow missed that Kate was such a huge X Files fan. I was prepared for the Nino Postino questions because I think Kate has it written into her rider that someone must ask her about her 17-pound cat whom she adores. I can’t be snarky about that, though, because I’m still straightening up from my pets’ birthday party last night so I get it.

I believe Kate when she said she has only received favorable comments from those she’s impersonated but I don’t think all of those she’s impersonated have commented. Hillary Clinton acknowledged that she loves Kate’s impression. I bet Jemima Kirke is happy to have Kate tackle Jessa from Girls. I am even willing to think Justin Bieber find’s Kate’s portrayal funny but I don’t think KellyAnne Conway finds Kate amusing, “nope – nuh-uh. Not one bit.” And Jeff Sessions is too confused as to how he got on the TV when he is sitting there watching it from his highchair. But for those of us who haven’t been indoctrinated in the #45 Tin Solider Army, yeah – I would be honored to have Kate impersonate me.

Here’s the puppy video. Kate claims she’s not taking any of the pups home but the first thing she does is name them. Everyone knows if you name them, you’re already too far gone. Then she tries to smuggle ‘Rachel’ out in her pocket. Lord, I could go for some puppy therapy right about now.

Photo credit: WENN Photos