September 25, 2025 • 6 mins
Step into the purr-fectly playful world of Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie! KFI's Heather Brooker sits down with star Laila Lockhart Kraner to talk about bringing Gabby from the hit Netflix series to the big screen. Laila shares behind-the-scenes stories, her favorite moments on set, and why kids (and parents!) are going to love Gabby’s first movie adventure. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering the whimsical Dollhouse universe, this episode is packed with fun, heart, and exclusive insights you won’t hear anywhere else.
Don't forget to subscribe to Entertain Me and follow Heather on Instagram @theheatherbrooker
Don't forget to subscribe to Entertain Me and follow Heather on Instagram @theheatherbrooker
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to entertain me. I'm Heatherbrooker, and today we are
talking all about Gabby's Dollhouse the movie. If you have
little ones, let's say, maybe kids under the age of
eleven or twelve, you might be familiar with Gabby and
the Gabby Cats. This sweet series from DreamWorks Animation first
(00:23):
sprung into the world onto our screens in twenty twenty
one and since then has really found its niche with
young girls and in the tween set, if you will.
And it is such a sweet story about this young
girl who is about twelve years old, supposed to be
about twelve years old, and her imagination she presses on
(00:44):
her ears, these cat ears, and she gets transported into
the world of her Gabby Cats inside the Dollhouse. Now,
if you're listening to this and you have no idea
what I'm talking about, that's okay. You can still absolutely
enjoyed the movie. And I am thrilled because I actually
(01:04):
had the opportunity to sit down and talk with the
star of not only Gabby's Dollhouse, but also Gabby's Dollhouse
the movie. Gabby is voiced by a now seventeen year
old Leila Lockhart, Krainer, and we got to talk about
how she has changed and evolved over the years by
playing this part. I talk about some of the fun
(01:24):
surprises that are in store in this movie. What does
it meant for you to play this character since you
were a young girl younger than you are now and
then sort of grow up with her, What does that
meant for you?
Speaker 2 (01:37):
It's been so wonderful and so magical, and so much
of who I am today is because of Gabby and
playing this, you know, ever positive and resilient character. I
think it's been I mean, her catchphrases of you know,
we haven't figured it out yet and failing fantastically. I've
said them so many times that it's gone to the
(01:58):
point where it's like ingrained me now, which I mean
are I'm not complaining. Are. They're great messages to have.
And when I'm you know, faced with challenges or difficulties,
I try and think outside the box and be creative.
And I think so much of that ability of to
keep reminding myself of that is because I've been playing
Gabby for so long and it's just constantly at the
(02:18):
forefront of my mind. So then to see her journey
now to be on the big screen. It's it's been
really incredible and I'm so happy that we can expand
her world even bigger in this movie and see more
of Gabby and the characters, and it's it's been really exciting.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah, and that was such a fun part of this
that we we really enjoyed expanding on Gabby's world a
little bit. We got to meet some new characters. Can
you talk a little bit about some of the new
characters that we get to meet and who you were
most excited to see brought to life.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Well, we get to see like real life humans outside
of Gabby for the first time, which is really exciting.
I was so excited that, you know, we learn a
little bit about her family, Grandma Gigi, and her relationship
with her as you know, someone that Gabby can look
up to, because in the show, you know, it's usually
Gabby is the leader, and she's the one that all
the Gabby Cats can look up to for solutions and
(03:15):
for comfort, and so now to have Gabby also have
someone that can do that for her was really special. Also, Vera,
the cat lady who's a little bit of the antagonist
in the story for a second, and then you know,
she has a character, a wonderful character where we learn
more about her. She's wonderful and played by the amazing
Kristen Wigg who I got to work with, and I
(03:37):
was so excited. I mean, she's literally a comedy genius
and both Glorias Stuffan and Christen Wigger icons in their
own respects, so I was just lucky and thrilled to
be alongside both of them. Also, Chumsley, there's more animated characters.
Chumsley is, you know, the stuffed animal who's been left
alone for a long time and now he's trying to
(03:59):
take over the dollhouse. But no, these new characters. It's
really exciting to see Gabby and what these new characters
might look like. You know, what do other real people
look like animated? And Chumsley as well in the teeny Boppers,
it's so cool to see them and how they play
alongside the Gabby Cats as well, who we know and love.
I think it was really interesting.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Now into this film, Gabby faces her biggest adventure yet.
So can you talk about what it was like recording
those moments where Gabby has to be extra brave and
did you find yourself channeling any real life courage as well.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Definitely. I think, you know, I've grown so close to Gabby,
and you know, I feel like she's a part of
me so much now that when I had those moments,
I was just kind of bringing myself and I was like,
you know, what would I be thinking in these moments,
and also what would Gabby be thinking in these moments,
because I feel like I have gone to know her
as a character so well, and seeing exploring you know,
(04:58):
what is she like when she's a little uns certain
or even scared. I think it was really cool. It
was a new adventure, which the whole movie is her
biggest adventurey ever, and seeing her in those new lights,
it was really fun and it was a really cool
process to explore and you know, expand her emotions as
well a little bit.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Well, Laila, the movie is so, like I said, such
a blast. The music is great. I know all the
kids in our screening had a blast, and my daughter
has grown up watching you and watching this show. So
congratulations again.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Thank you, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Gabby's Dollhouse the movie open September twenty sixth. It has
an incredible cast, not only Layla but also Kristin Wig,
Tara Strong, Gloria Estefan, Fortune Fimester, just some incredible, talented,
very funny people. And if you have little ones who
don't watch Gabby yet, it's definitely worth a treat and
(05:54):
a trip to the box office for you. And if
you want to get caught up on the show, it's
available now on Netflix. That's gonna do it for me, everybody,
Thanks so much for listening to entertain me. Remember you
can listen anywhere, anytime on the iHeartRadio app.
Welcome to entertain me. I'm Heatherbrooker, and today we are
talking all about Gabby's Dollhouse the movie. If you have
little ones, let's say, maybe kids under the age of
eleven or twelve, you might be familiar with Gabby and
the Gabby Cats. This sweet series from DreamWorks Animation first
(00:23):
sprung into the world onto our screens in twenty twenty
one and since then has really found its niche with
young girls and in the tween set, if you will.
And it is such a sweet story about this young
girl who is about twelve years old, supposed to be
about twelve years old, and her imagination she presses on
(00:44):
her ears, these cat ears, and she gets transported into
the world of her Gabby Cats inside the Dollhouse. Now,
if you're listening to this and you have no idea
what I'm talking about, that's okay. You can still absolutely
enjoyed the movie. And I am thrilled because I actually
(01:04):
had the opportunity to sit down and talk with the
star of not only Gabby's Dollhouse, but also Gabby's Dollhouse
the movie. Gabby is voiced by a now seventeen year
old Leila Lockhart, Krainer, and we got to talk about
how she has changed and evolved over the years by
playing this part. I talk about some of the fun
(01:24):
surprises that are in store in this movie. What does
it meant for you to play this character since you
were a young girl younger than you are now and
then sort of grow up with her, What does that
meant for you?
Speaker 2 (01:37):
It's been so wonderful and so magical, and so much
of who I am today is because of Gabby and
playing this, you know, ever positive and resilient character. I
think it's been I mean, her catchphrases of you know,
we haven't figured it out yet and failing fantastically. I've
said them so many times that it's gone to the
(01:58):
point where it's like ingrained me now, which I mean
are I'm not complaining. Are. They're great messages to have.
And when I'm you know, faced with challenges or difficulties,
I try and think outside the box and be creative.
And I think so much of that ability of to
keep reminding myself of that is because I've been playing
Gabby for so long and it's just constantly at the
(02:18):
forefront of my mind. So then to see her journey
now to be on the big screen. It's it's been
really incredible and I'm so happy that we can expand
her world even bigger in this movie and see more
of Gabby and the characters, and it's it's been really exciting.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah, and that was such a fun part of this
that we we really enjoyed expanding on Gabby's world a
little bit. We got to meet some new characters. Can
you talk a little bit about some of the new
characters that we get to meet and who you were
most excited to see brought to life.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Well, we get to see like real life humans outside
of Gabby for the first time, which is really exciting.
I was so excited that, you know, we learn a
little bit about her family, Grandma Gigi, and her relationship
with her as you know, someone that Gabby can look
up to, because in the show, you know, it's usually
Gabby is the leader, and she's the one that all
the Gabby Cats can look up to for solutions and
(03:15):
for comfort, and so now to have Gabby also have
someone that can do that for her was really special. Also, Vera,
the cat lady who's a little bit of the antagonist
in the story for a second, and then you know,
she has a character, a wonderful character where we learn
more about her. She's wonderful and played by the amazing
Kristen Wigg who I got to work with, and I
(03:37):
was so excited. I mean, she's literally a comedy genius
and both Glorias Stuffan and Christen Wigger icons in their
own respects, so I was just lucky and thrilled to
be alongside both of them. Also, Chumsley, there's more animated characters.
Chumsley is, you know, the stuffed animal who's been left
alone for a long time and now he's trying to
(03:59):
take over the dollhouse. But no, these new characters. It's
really exciting to see Gabby and what these new characters
might look like. You know, what do other real people
look like animated? And Chumsley as well in the teeny Boppers,
it's so cool to see them and how they play
alongside the Gabby Cats as well, who we know and love.
I think it was really interesting.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Now into this film, Gabby faces her biggest adventure yet.
So can you talk about what it was like recording
those moments where Gabby has to be extra brave and
did you find yourself channeling any real life courage as well.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Definitely. I think, you know, I've grown so close to Gabby,
and you know, I feel like she's a part of
me so much now that when I had those moments,
I was just kind of bringing myself and I was like,
you know, what would I be thinking in these moments,
and also what would Gabby be thinking in these moments,
because I feel like I have gone to know her
as a character so well, and seeing exploring you know,
(04:58):
what is she like when she's a little uns certain
or even scared. I think it was really cool. It
was a new adventure, which the whole movie is her
biggest adventurey ever, and seeing her in those new lights,
it was really fun and it was a really cool
process to explore and you know, expand her emotions as
well a little bit.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Well, Laila, the movie is so, like I said, such
a blast. The music is great. I know all the
kids in our screening had a blast, and my daughter
has grown up watching you and watching this show. So
congratulations again.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Thank you, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Gabby's Dollhouse the movie open September twenty sixth. It has
an incredible cast, not only Layla but also Kristin Wig,
Tara Strong, Gloria Estefan, Fortune Fimester, just some incredible, talented,
very funny people. And if you have little ones who
don't watch Gabby yet, it's definitely worth a treat and
(05:54):
a trip to the box office for you. And if
you want to get caught up on the show, it's
available now on Netflix. That's gonna do it for me, everybody,
Thanks so much for listening to entertain me. Remember you
can listen anywhere, anytime on the iHeartRadio app.
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