The Whack Job on the Hand Job

I’m a bit torn on whether or not to write about poor dear Ellen Sirot (aka the “creepy hand model” who’s CBS interview went viral last month), since I imagine by now she’s embarrassed enough by the public’s reaction to her apparent wacky ways.

Ms Sirot is not the first Hand Diva I’ve encountered in this business. I’ve watched a handful of hand models stare incessantly at their fine fingers, and recall one particular gentleman who did so while licking his paws. In fact, I shot a commercial today with a female hand model who glided onto set with gloved hands elevated, asking the nearest production assistant for an “opened” bottle of water. Can’t say I’ve ever seen a super model show up sporting a face mask.

Personally, I’ve questioned participating in a profession that stems from the wrist down. It’s not like any of us super hand models are saving the world, one hand job at a time. No matter how successful I become as a hand model, I won’t be changing lives with my cheese pulls and pouring skills.

In fact, I used to feel a bit embarrassed about my livelihood. Even when people were impressed, I’d brush the subject off with a joke, just so they knew that I knew living one hand job to the next was not the most respectable way to make ends meet.

But maybe, I can learn something from Miss Sirot – perhaps persistent self-deprecation, like insistent self-adoration, is also at times annoying. I’m now not only grateful to be part of the unique world of parts modeling, I’m enjoying an adventurous ride and more success, than those early days when Choid was finding fault with every part of my life, including my career.

Clearly, Ellen is a bit peculiar when it comes to her parts, but on the other hand, her obsessive behavior has her hubby doing all the housework. No self-belittling hand model would’a thought of that one… Damn!