Milla White from Cochrane had no idea when she started drawing a picture of actor and former boxer Mickey Rourke’s beloved dog, Ruby, that she would end up gifting the picture to Rourke, in person, at his house in Los Angeles.
But that’s what happened two weeks ago.
Thirteen-year-old Milla began online drawing lessons two months ago with her instructor, who lives in Russia. He told her how he had drawn photos for celebrities including Rourke.
“So my art teacher has drawn a drawing already for Mickey Rourke, and he was telling me about his relationship with his dog Ruby, who had been alive for 23 years and passed away sadly,” she said.
She decided to create a drawing to help Rourke honour the memory of Ruby; so she drew the drawing and posted a video on Instagram about she’d like to give it to him in person one day and after 30 minutes, he replied.
"Come on down," he said.
“So right away we booked our tickets to LA,” White recalled.
The next day the White family pulled up to Rourke’s house in Beverly Hills, and she gave the pencil drawing to him.
“He was very grateful, and then just we started talking and asking him a bunch of questions,” she said.
He showed the family memorabilia from his acting and boxing careers.
She was a bit anxious at first, but the actor immediately put her and her family at ease.
“I was quite nervous because I saw him only in the movies (when I was) younger," she said. "So I wasn't sure what to expect to see a celebrity for the first time, I guess. But then once we walked in, he was very kind and heart warming and welcoming, very sweet, very interesting. Really funny. So the nerves slowly went away.”
In exchange for the picture Rourke gave the family some items to bring back to Cochrane, which included autographed boxing mitts, posters and cards.
The family also learned Rourke is an advocate for rescue dogs, including Ruby.
Before they headed home, the family even managed to visit Disneyland.
