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Interview with Mimi Kennedy - Part One
Mimi Kennedy |
She was raised to go to Heaven. Did I hear you right,
I asked "Abby" from the super hit sitcom "Dharma and
Greg"? She laughingly told me she went from dreaming of being
saintly by becoming an actress and living passionately without
consequences, to doing a reality check on life and trading Heaven
for earthly pursuits. But believe me, I have never met a more
caring and saintly soul in my many years of interviewing. So began
my odyssey in the life and times of Mimi Kennedy, a truly
incredible lady who chronicles her Catholic girlhood coming-of-age
as an actress, wife, and mother in her book "Taken To The Stage"
The Education Of An Actress.
Mimi
began her acting career on stage playing her first professional
role opposite famed TV Comedian Sid Caesar. She starred on Broadway
in "Grease". Her TV credits include "Spencer", Family Man", "Homicide",
"St. Elsewhere", "Knots Landing", "Savannah", and that doesn't
even include made for TV movies and mini-series. Her big screen
appearances read like a who's who in Hollywood from "Death Becomes
Her" with Goldie Hawn to "Erin Brockovich" with Julia Roberts.
Now
I've got to tell you straight up, I am a big fan of "Dharma and
Greg". So I was curious how much of "Abby" is in Mimi and vice-versa.
To my delight, Mimi admitted that it was a great deal. "I was
a hippie in the late 60's", she confessed. "At Smith College in
New York City, I had my youthful days as a hippie, and it was
really fun. I think I embraced it."
Now
what I think I love most about Mimi Kennedy is that she is a real
actress. Unlike other stars like say Harrison Ford who is Harrison
Ford whether he is doing "Indiana Jones" or "What Lies Beneath",
Mimi is like a chameleon. "They used to call that proteun actors,"
she explained. Are we talking actors on drugs here, Mimi? She
straightened me out very quickly. "I guess it was some Greek god
named Proteus who took every shape he could. The Native Americans
have a term…shape shifter. The Shamans could become the crow etc.
That's the type of acting I love and do. The other is being a
movie star. Of course I wanted to be a star, but thought of it
as star of the stage…the Helen Hayes type."
Mimi
got proof she is the real thing while filming the movie "Erin
Brockovich", based on a true story about contamination from
a plant that caused major illnesses to the people who lived close
to it. Erin Brockovich exposed this injustice and saved many lives.
"I was sitting in a community room with a woman who was really
from that area," Mimi began. "She was telling me how she couldn't
have children, and that her mother thought the sterility was from
the water." It took a whole day before the woman realized Mimi
was an actress. She had totally transformed herself into someone
else's skin. Now that's acting!
Like
the real life character in the movie "Erin Brockovich", I could
see strength in Mimi that would allow her to overcome any obstacles
that come into her life. She validated that belief when she related
this story. "Interesting, a friend of mine once said, you've been
such a good mother, and now it's gonna' be time to use your mind.
I remember thinking, I went to smith College. I'm really smart.
But I haven't sat on my butt in so long because I'm running around
driving, cleaning, auditioning…but to sit down and use your mind
and work on things the way Brockovich did in that movie," her
voice trailed off a little, "It was exciting to see a woman have
the chance to make such a contribution. We have forgotten we can
use our minds passionately." And I can verify this is one passionate
woman.
But
how does a multi-talented woman who writes, acts, and does motivational
speaking, among other things, put a realistic spin on balancing
career and a family she dearly loves? Family is Husband Larry,
a High School English Teacher, and kids John Francisco (Cisco)
and Molly. Mimi went on with no hesitation. "I have somebody to
help me while I sit on my butt writing." But it was not always
so. She related to me there was a time when she ran like a chicken
with her head cut off. She'd jump out of her PJs into an audition
outfit all the while saying, "please God, let me get this part
so I can help supplement my husband's income." She is grateful
that Dharma and Greg" came along in her life now. Her kids are
older and don't need her at home in the same way.
Ooooops,
looks like I've run out of space again, so when next we meet,
we'll explore what Mimi does to stay as lovely as she is. Maybe
she'll share some health tips that help her keep up the pace of
her hectic life schedule. Til next time, I'll borrow a line from
the theme music on Dharma and Greg" to say "You're Still the One".
So treat number one well, won't you?
So
till next we meet on STARGATE, STAY WELL AND BE WISE !!!
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