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Stiller monkeys around on set

Friday 22 December, 2006

Ben Stiller has spoken about some of the monkey business that took place on the set of the Hollywood funnnyman's latest movie, Night At The Museum.

Speaking to US TV, Stiller recounted details of the fun goings-on involving one of his co-stars, who just happens to be a monkey. In one scene Stiller, who plays a night security guard who works at the Natural History Museum, gets involved in a slap-fight with the primate.

"The frustrating thing is you are not allowed to slap a monkey, the animal rights people or the trainers wouldn't let me actually slap her," Stiller told CBS' The Early Show.

"The monkey was allowed to hit me. The monkey was encouraged to hit me by a trainer who would stand next to her and say, 'Hit him. Hit him harder'… And when it became my turn, I got a monkey puppet or a tennis ball to hit, which is unfair," he joked.

Stiller, who has played a range of colourful and comic characters on the silver screen, from male model Derek Zoolander to narcissistic gym owner White Goodman in Dodgeball, said that it wasn't all so bad.

"But she [the monkey] wears a diaper so I can't feel too bad for her. I am trying to feel better about myself somehow. But we had a good working relationship, except when she was on her cycle. Not good."

Screen legend Dick van Dyke and British comedian Ricky Gervais also star in Night At The Museum.

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Stiller monkeys around on set

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