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Film star snake not ready to slither into Gold Coast retirement just yet

Kalamata the olive python has featured in films, TV shows and theme park performances. (Supplied: Tony Harrison)

She acts like "a big lump of plasticine", yet Kalamata the film star snake may be one of the biggest celebrities on the Gold Coast.

The 3.3-metre olive python has appeared on TV and in films, including Nim's Island, Young Rock, Sea Patrol and Animal Planet.

But at approximately 37 years old, and after producing hundreds of offspring, the silver screen veteran could be forgiven if she simply wanted to slither off into retirement.

"If she was human she'd probably have that walking frame going on," owner and snake catcher Tony Harrison said.

But she's not done with stardom just yet.

One of her biggest claims to fame is being the model for Nagini — Voldemort's pet in the Harry Potter films.

The Harry Potter filmmakers monitored Kalamata's movements to create the life-like CGI snake Nagini. (Supplied)

"They put hundreds of electrodes down her side and got her to crawl along the ground," Mr Harrison said.

While the resulting CGI snake was quite evil, Mr Harrison said Kalamata herself was "just like a big puppy dog".

Secret to success

Mr Harrison said Kalamata had proven popular with entertainment industry cast and crew due to her predictability and calm nature.

"[She's] like a big lump of plasticine … put her in a position and she'll do it," he said.

That sort of lazy acting does not come cheap, with her hourly rate ranging from $150 to $300 depending on the work required.

"I started my business in 1994 and here we are now," Mr Harrison said.

Snake catcher Tony Harrison holding a large Burmese python he caught on the Gold Coast. (ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale)

The only time Kalamata didn't perform in her decades-spanning career, was during a recent show for a Gold Coast theme park.

"She was getting all limp and not hanging on to this actor," Mr Harrison said.

"I took Kalamata around the back and she didn't move [and] I thought, 'Oh-oh, she's at the end of her tether, she's going to die'.

"And the next morning she was sitting on … eggs, so obviously she was in labour while working."

Retirement approaching

Mr Harrison bought Kalamata from a private seller about 26 years ago for $700.

"She was emaciated, she was just skin and bone," he said.

But under Mr Harrison's care, she recovered well and has since bred on 10 occasions, delivering about 29 offspring each time.

Kalamata is now one of 24 olive pythons that Mr Harrison owns.

One of Tony Harrison's other olive pythons, Woodie, with a clutch of eggs in 2020. (Supplied: Tony Harrison)

"They all have different personalities. [Kalamata's] just the most forgiving, placid snake."

In the reptile world, the average lifespan of an olive python is between 20 and 30 years, so at 37, Kalamata is proof that her lazy, peaceful approach to life has merit.

And while she's still breeding, Mr Harrison said she was showing signs of ageing and her egg clutches were getting smaller. 

"She's starting to get skinny [but] still eats and does what's expected," he said.

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