A Short Bio
by Kim Anderson
I've spent the last twenty years as a working actor. Over the years I studied with many teachers and coaches in New York City. Working in every area including voice, dance, theatre, movement, television, film… writing and production. If there was a class out there I took it. I’ve had the great fortune of having worked with some wonderful agents and agencies such as The Gersh Agency and the Michael Hartig Agency and have especially enjoyed my long relationship with all the fabulous agents at Abrams Artists. Being a New York actor I've delved into the joy and frustration of doing many “black box” theatre productions… all over the city. I’ve shot commercials with a lot of wonderful actors like John Cleese (Magnavox) and Rob Morrow (Dentyne)… I’ve been involved with many theatre groups in New York, as an actress and a writer, including Ensemble Studio Theatre's Lab, The Lab’s Lab, Naked Angels One Act Reading Series and one year HBO asked me to submit material for their comedy festival… I’ve worked with an Improv Company (West End Gate) and also worked for the Nantucket Film Festival for over two years as their Panel Discussion Coordinator, where I got to work with a slew of writers, directors, producers and actors. One of my favorite panel's I put together was called "It's a mans, mans, mans world but meet the women working in it..." We had women like Mimi Polk Gitlin (producer: Thelma and Louise), Susan Sandler (writer: Crossing DeLancey), and Anne Merra (actor) on this panel. At one point in response to a comment made by Anne Merrra, Jerry Stiller raised his hand in the audience and said "certain persons have asked me not to speak tonight but as the husband of the woman who just said..." the argument that followed was priceless.
What I found while living and in New York was that I really like working on the "process" of creating new material. Being a single mother made long rehearsal schedules difficult so I got involved in doing “readings” mostly for new plays, or independent films… A highlight for me was getting to read Susan Sarandon’s role, in a play about Death Row Inmates, or the time I was asked to read for auditions at Bernie Telsey and Kim Hunter walked in the door... it's small moments like this that have made my career.
It also came to me early on that doing print work was easier on the feet than food service... although my four month stint as a waitress at "Who's on First" comedy club, when I arrived in New York, didn't hurt. Unfortunately for the patrons me being a waitress was a comedy routine of it's own. Anyway, the point being that I have had the great joy of being a New York actress/model. Yes, that’s me… actress slash model… I've had a few fun moments as a model... stopping traffic on Fifth Ave. while on a shoot for Maybeline, rounding a corner in France and seeing myself on a giant billboard , finding myself in Vogue Magazine. But what really comes to mind is the time my sister and I were both nine months pregnant and we were taking a bus downtown and I was so swollen and covered in paint and my sister (not so swollen, not so covered in paint, way more attractive while pregnant) spotted me on a bus billboard wearing a gleaming golden dress, lounging on a dark velvet couch. I was on the cover of a new book coming out called "Never too sexy..." now that was funny. When we dropped into Barnes and Noble to buy the book my sister tried to convince the sales person that I was the woman on the cover... that was a New York moment for me.
Oh well, as I “glide” into my forties… it’s easy to feel “invisible” in this industry I love but I have decided to fight not to disappear. Women my age are just way too fun and sexy and cool to be brushed off… no matter how much gravity affects us. So, keep a lookout for new things… I certainly will be! Thanks for stopping by.