Meet the woman fired—and called "retarded"—by Woody Allen.

It may just be the best thing that ever happened to Annabelle Gurwitch. The affable and very much not retarded comedic actress has turned the experience into a small empire of sorts - first a successful stage show, then a successful book (just released in paperback this month), and on Feb. 2 her new documentary "Fired!" opens at the Village East.

"I'm just glad he didn't call me a 'tardo,'" reflects Gurwitch, 45, a Los Angeles-based National Public Radio commentator who is currently working on a pilot for Lifetime. "The truth is, I'm positive I sucked in that play, I probably did look retarded."