Bobby the dog had spent his life begging for food on the streets of Cyprus, severely underweight and covered with scars. But two years ago he was rescued by a local charity, Rehoming Cyprus Dogs, run by Briton Helen McGarry.

Immediately spotting her talent, the association contacted Julie Tottman, a Hollywood animal trainer, and took Bobby under her wing.

Ms Tottman told the Mirror: “When they found him he was extremely thin and nervous men, indicating that he had been mistreated.

“He was a typical mangy street dog, he still has scars.”

Although not a Dalmatian, Bobby’s shaggy fur and red ears were a hit with Disney casting agents and they gave him the starring role as Cruella De Vil’s sidekick, played by Emma Stone.

READ MORE: Zoe Ball reveals her daughter’s reaction to her masked dancer llama

Ms. Tottman added, “Bobby is one of the easiest rescue animals I’ve worked with. He’s so natural, he takes the acting and he thrives in doing it.

“You get a little bit more on the animal rescue set because it’s like they’ve seen evil and are so grateful, and they love and adore you for saving them.

“I always cry, it’s adorable when they do their first scene knowing where they’re from.

“The world pushes them aside, but I know from experience that rescues are often the hardest working, most loyal and loving animals. “

For Bobby, this included learning how to grab a necklace Emma Stone would throw at him, crawl under a table, and carry a sandwich bag to bring him his lunch.

Her biggest moment took a month of training when the rescue dog had to become a rescuer, saving Cruella, tied with a rope to a chair, from a fire.

It involved shots with a blue screen and double body, and some with Emma with flame machines.

“She falls to the ground and they wanted him to pull the ropes.

“He really untied it, obviously I tied it up in a dog friendly way, but he pulled it apart and pulled it.”

According to Ms Tottman, Bobby has already secured his next movie role but “isn’t allowed to say what”.

Additional reports by Emilie Retter.