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What next for ugliest dog turned film star?

Holly Middleton Peggy – a pug and Chinese crested cross dog - wears a rec-checked shirt and has a long, pink tongue hanging from its mouthHolly Middleton
The past year for Peggy has been "unbelievable", her owner says

The furry four-legged star of superhero film Deadpool & Wolverine can get her own seat on a plane but is still waiting for a Christmas card from Ryan Reynolds.

Peggy the pugese – a pug and Chinese crested cross – was once crowned Britain's "ugliest" dog but is now a Hollywood star. Her newfound fame has led to subsequent guest appearances on TV and she even has a toy modelled on her character.

Owner Holly Middleton, from East Yorkshire, said the past 12 months had been "unbelievable".

"It's really weird to turn on Disney+ and see that Peggy's on there," she said.

Reuters Ryan Reynolds wears a green shirt and holds Peggy the dog. He is kissing her on the side of the head. She wears red and black superhero costume and has a long, pink tongue.Reuters
The pugese is still waiting for a festive message from her co-star, Ryan Reynolds

"We're still coming to terms with it to be honest."

A highlight of the past year was attending the New York premiere of the Marvel superhero film and seeing Peggy walk the red carpet with her fellow stars, said Ms Middleton, 38.

"We got to take our kids on to the set to watch her do a scene with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, and the kids were blown away."

Since then the pooch's popularity has soared. She has appeared at film conventions and been immortalised in collectable figurines.

Holly Middleton Peggy is asleep on a plane seat with her tongue hanging out her mouth. She is lying on a blue blanket. The seat in front of her has an inbuilt TV screen showing a scene from the Deadpool & Wolverine film.Holly Middleton
Peggy travelling for a Halloween trip to the USA with her family

Ms Middleton, a make-up artist, said: "There's still sort of a normal life at home, and then every couple of months or so we'll go out and we'll do a comic con and she meets people and does her thing. She takes it all in her stride.

"A lot of people bring [the figurines] to Peggy and she does a little 'pawtograph' on them.

"She's proved very, very popular."

The family spent Halloween in America.

Ms Middleton said: "We're walking her down the street in Salem and people are going, 'Oh my God, is that Peggy from the UK?' That's quite surreal."

Holly Middleton A smiling Holly Middleton, who wears a black dress, gold necklace and has tattoos on her arm, holds her dog Peggy, who is wearing a black and red costume, at an event to promote Deadpool and Wolverine. Her husband, wearing a burgundy dinner jacket, white shirt and black tie, stands next to her.Holly Middleton
Holly Middleton, with Peggy and husband Luke, at a film premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine

While the pet's global fandom is growing, the pooch's "well-being is paramount" and, since her Hollywood starring role, Peggy is getting more legroom on airplanes than most of her family.

"Peggy's got this status with certain airlines where she's allowed to have her own seat," said Ms Middleton. "It's very bizarre.

"She's been on the ferry with us - pet friendly cabins - and she goes on trains. She's always been a brilliant traveller, but we've never thought about taking her on an aeroplane until she was asked to go to the premiere in New York."

Holly Middleton Peggy – a pug and Chinese crested cross dog - wears a red-checked shirt and has a long, pink tongue hanging from its mouth. She is sitting in front of red wrapping paper emblazoned with Christmas treesHolly Middleton
Peggy spent Christmas with her family after missing the festive season last year due to filming

While the family missed their furry friend last Christmas, this year they have enjoyed having her back for their usual festive event, filling Peggy's stocking with "treats and lots of new jumpers".

Despite all the accolades, the one thing Peggy has not received is a Christmas card from her co-stars, her owner said.

Life for the pooch continues with dates for future comic cons in the family's diary over the next 12 months.

"She just loves the attention and meeting everyone," said Ms Middleton.

"We used to go to those sort of things because my kids have always been into movies and now we get to go as a guest with Peggy and meet all these people."

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