Bindi Irwin Takes On Film

The apple does not fall far from the tree in the Irwin family. Bindi Irwin, daughter of legendary animal rights activist, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, has already made her mark on television as Bindi the Jungle Girl, and is now taking her love for animals to film. The 11 year-old is starring in the newest installment of Free Willy. In the new film, the actress does not actually work with a real whale, reports PEOPLE Pets. Irwin shares, "We don't want to ruin the magic for the kids, but we didn't use a real whale. And I feel lost without animals!"

The new film Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove, which is released today (March 23) on DVD and Blu-Ray, was filmed in Cape Town, South Africa last year. Of the experience, Irwin says, "It was so much fun. I told my mom I'd love to do a movie one day, and when Free Willy came along, I said 'yes' right away." She adds, "They're not just action-packed family fun, but they really have a message. You can learn something from watching them."

The topic of using real animals for filming has become very controversial, with many celebs becoming involved in the fight for animal freedom. In a letter to Sea World, Inglorious Basterds star Eli Roth pleads with the adventure park owners to allow the wildlife in their parks to return to their natural habitat, after the death of a staff member working with an orca whale. The full letter on behalf of PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals,) can be found on Radar Online.

Photo: Flynet