Ellen Greene is 75 now.

She can still do her famous Audrey voice from "Little Shop of Horrors."

She said she did not plan that voice.

It was a breathy, squeaky, and lispy New York accent.

It just came out at the audition.

Then it stayed with her.

She called this role the most important one for her.

Greene played the shopgirl in the play in 1982.

The play was off-Broadway.

She also played her in Frank Oz's 1986 film with Rick Moranis.

She will travel around the country for the film's 40th anniversary.

The first show is in Seattle on Aug. 18.

The last show is in Atlanta on Nov. 13.

She promised to sing "Somewhere That's Green."

She first heard that song while she was waiting in line for unemployment money.

She felt an Audrey inside her then.

Making the film was hard.

John Landis was going to direct first.

Then Martin Scorsese was going to direct.

Finally, Oz took over.

Producer David Geffen wanted a bigger star for the role.

He thought of Cyndi Lauper.

Test audiences loved Greene's Audrey very much.

They did not like an ending where Audrey dies.

Greene said she loved that death scene.

But Oz directed her more like a hero.

She thinks the film's version of one important line felt more real and touching.

Greene also remembered Howard Ashman.

He wrote the words for the songs.

He died in 1991.

He was her close friend.

He gave her a part of the play's money because she created Audrey.

She said everyone loves "Little Shop" because they put so much love into it.

That keeps Ashman's memory alive.