Tomorrow “Dolphin Tale” opens with Kris Kristofferson, Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd. The true-life movie stars Winter, the real 5- year-old fish who’d lost her tail and plays herself, and Harry Connick Jr. as Clearwater Marine Hospital’s doctor who saved Winter with a prosthesis.

Said Harry: “A girl with an artificial leg discovered some pain-alleviating gel, and that groundbreaking method was eventually utilized without hurting this dolphin, whose tail was severely damaged and otherwise can’t survive.

“It’s not a fictional story. Winter cannot exist without a tail. Without it she barely moves. Before doing this film, I spoke to specialists, studied films, learned how the prosthetic tail’s applied without hurting her.

“Like being in Florida summer camp, we filmed scenes in the water with her every day. You never know at which moment you can do what. She’s had so much trauma. Frightened at first, I approached with caution. We were told don’t scare her. Don’t talk loudly.

“They have swim-with-dolphin escorts. Winter’s handled so much she has a real connection to humans. She’s intelligent. Peers up at you. You can tell she’s happy the same way you can tell if a dog’s happy. We held her. She’s cuddly. We stroked her in the water every day.”

And when not swimming with the fish, what’s Harry’s life like?

“Just my wife and kids and living in Connecticut.”

ALSO opening tomorrow, “Puncture.” This other real-life job’s about lawyers, druggies and infection via a contaminated needle. It stars Jesse L. Martin. So, my first question: What’s the “L” stand for?

“Loverboy,” said smartass Jesse.

I tried again. With all your “Law & Order” years, are you rich?

“I don’t know from rich. My ‘Law & Order’ time is over. I did 9 1/2 seasons. I never had money before. Now at least there’s enough to get a car and my mama a house in Virginia Beach.

“But I don’t live there. Nor am I an LA guy. God bless them out there but that vibration is not for me. I’m a New Yorker. TriBeCa. To own a New York apartment is like owning a big shiny badge. My life now is out looking for a lady. Failing that, I’m willing to settle for a dog.” (His thought transference — a girlfriend to a dog — was thrilling.) I’m now obsessed with finding myself the right dog.

“In ’99, it was hard to get on ‘Law & Order.’ I can’t believe I did it. A friend said Benjamin Bratt’s leaving.

“I told my manager I wanted to meet Dick Wolf. Walking into Wolf’s office, I said, ‘I know Bratt’s leaving.’ Nobody knew that. He laughed at me like, ‘Who is this kid with the b.s.?’ I was pushy. I said I wanted the job. And I got it without even reading for it.”

And about this movie it was: “There’s one scene in a party with a tattoo’d drunk druggie and his lizard pet. We worked with a reptile wrangler. The thing was 3 feet long. I learned you do not direct it. You just stay out of its way.”

ZOE Caldwell a grandma thanks to son Sam’s month-old twin boys … Everyone’s into saving whales. And rightly so. So my question is, what do whales do after sex? Answer: Smoke salmon … Judith Giuliani’s thank-you gift: Large crystal wine glass handblown with the American flag inside … Want to please Gabourey Sidibe? She loves kid movies … Whatever’s called the Elizabeth Taylor Trust is planning a very soon memorial tribute.

ZSA Zsa’s only child, Francesca Hilton, was allowed, first time in a month, to see her 94-year-old ailing mother. Result of a long-ago traffic accident, Zsa has been hospitalized, suffered amputation of a leg, was reported in dire straits and is now home.

Although stepfather Frédéric Anhalt keeps his wife quiet and away from visitors, Francesca called her mother’s woman doctor. With two physicians present Francesca was allowed to see Zsa Zsa who’s in a hospital bed. She tells me Zsa Zsa said to her: “I love you.”

MOS Def changing his name. Not to Stanley, Irving or Seymour. To Yasiin. Why? “I’ve done enough with that name. Time to expand and move on,” he says. Right. And from now you may all call me Salahushi … Bryan Batt (Sal Romano on TV’s “Mad Men”) just did the memoir “She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Mother.” FreeRivers Press. A delicious gumbo about the unshakable bond between a mom and her gay son in New Orleans.

YESTERDAY I mentioned lunch for 60 ladies at my home for Christine Quinn and her soon-to-be bride.

Today I mention the lesson learned: Invite cheaper friends.

Security guys monitored large shoulder bags parked so nobody would mill about knocking one another over.

Exiting at 2:25, Judith Ripka repossessed her gray calfskin Hermes purse.

At 2:35, dashing for the elevator, Mrs. Jimmy Nederlander grabbed hers. Identical gray calfskin Hermes. Each had the wrong one.

They were saved by the cellphone inside. One was pink, the other not. Twenty minutes of hysteria later the exchange was made.

Only in New York, kids, only in New York.