Shrek's Gingerbread Man

AGE ''I'm actually 76,'' says the upstart bit player in DreamWorks' computer-animated smash Shrek. ''I was baked back in 1925 as a Christmas gift and shared a tin with a fruitcake for years...an unpleasant memory I'd prefer not to discuss.'' WHY HIS VOICE IS SO HIGH ''I am, as Howard Stern says, hung like a raisin -- literally.'' ON WORKING WITH JOHN LITHGOW Despite the reciprocal torture pictured here, Gingy has nothing but respect for his Shrek costar, the actor behind gumdrop-yanking Lord Farquaad. ''What can I say about John...he was a real treat. We really fed off of each other, so to speak -- he a little more than I.'' COOKIE NOOKY ''I used to date Little Debbie until I found out she was a real Ho Ho. I'm currently seeing a Pop-Tart, though I'm reluctant to say what flavor.'' WORK HABITS Between takes, ''I like to get laid on a cookie sheet.'' BEAUTY SECRET To stay soft and supple, Gingy sleeps in a Tupperware container. WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT ''My Lord and Baker, Julia Child. Amen.'' NEXT ''DreamWorks and I are negotiating my contract stipulations for the Shrek sequel. You want the man, you gotta grease the pan, if you know what I mean.''