Saw Helen Mirren in a film called Greenfingers this evening (with Clive Owen who I adore.) It was a nice little film, obviously low budget, but it underscores something I love about British actors. They move from big pictures to small pictures and back again, and they don't scale back their performance just because a film isn't considered "important" and likely to win awards. They respect their craft and they never phone it in. Mirren was perfect in the supporting role of the famed horticulturalist. Really wonderful.

Got an email this afternoon about doing another film where only my voice is heard. It's a quirky script (I won't give away the plot) and I'm one of several actresses they're looking at for the role. (Note to self: put more of your VO samples on your website.)

I’m still laughing. I spied the cover of this week’s TV Guide as I was dashing out the door this morning – Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin in what is supposed to be a lusty clinch under the headline “Hot Blooded.” Ha! From their facial expressions, it’s hard to tell if either of them knows the other is even in the room! Moyer has his hands on Paquin's caboose, but he may as well be holding on to a coffee table! Give me Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr entwined in the surf in From Here to Eternity. Now that’s hot-blooded!

The next six weeks are going to test my stamina as I juggle production schedules and try to keep three characters – ruthless kidnapper, regretful Italian widow, jaded childless executive – separate and unique. Every weekend I’ll be hitting the freeways between Washington, Baltimore Philadelphia, and a TBD beach locale. It’s exciting though. The scripts are terrific, the characters challenging, and for all the demands of juggling acting and a 40-hour work week, I’m already looking for new film projects for October and later.

Sticking largely to leading roles in small films has given me a lot of on-camera experience – and many opportunities to experiment – in a very short amount of time. I could never have come this far scattering my energies in every acting direction. And my small films are becoming not so small. Bliss.

I continue to get work and have two more film roles lined up. Starting immediately I play Bella in "The Story of Bella" segment of the Robinson Brothers film The Shadows of Strangers, opposite Stephen Rutledge and Nora Achrati. There are six short stories planned for this film, which means the finished product will be feature length. The script is terrific - really excited about it. In September I play Ms. Porter in Anthony Greene's film Clear and Sunny Skies. Part of it is to be shot over at the shore, which means delaying until the summer vacationers to go home. Still waiting for a date to record the kidnapper's voice for Deadline, which is shooting now in Philadelphia. Plus I'm shooting a corporate video this week, playing a weathercaster. Working all of this around my day job. It's going to be a busy, busy next few months, but I'm staying on track for having 12 significant roles for a new demo reel by the end of the year. Also, it's likely that a couple of these films will be posted to IMDB.

More news: my Stonehenge Audition from last month is now posted to You Tube (screen shot above and video linked at right). I thought I looked good and sounded good. Pacing and delivery need work. A bit worried about a talented friend who was dissatisfied with his audition and ask that it be taken down. I think he has a wonderfully unique look and on-screen personality. I hope he's not being too hard on himself. My drama instructor, actor Michael Gabel, also has a new Stonehenge Audition and it's terrific. He showed us how it's done.

Out tomorrow to look for costume options. My house is a mess. Bah.

Got the voiced role in the Philadelphia film so the three-hour drive (each way) wasn't wasted. Here's the challenge: I play a kidnapper and viewers will only hear my voice over the telephone. I need to create a character without the use of visuals - gestures, expressions, reactions. Plus - since the plot has a very interesting twist - there has to be some ambiguity in my voice or the director can't pull it off. Wow! This is going to be terrific!

Meanwhile a film I appeared in this spring - A Beautiful Love - is premiering in two weeks in Kensington, Maryland, and the poster is...well...posted. I will glam-up and show up. It was shot in 16 mm and the film quality is absolutely gorgeous. I was thrilled to be a part of it.

Still looking for another on-camera role. On leave next week from my day job, so I'm dropping by Central Casting and getting some marketing done. The most promising thing is that I'm finally feeling relaxed in front of the camera, which means I can concentrate on my character in relation to my scene partner, the environment in which the scene takes place, etc. It's hard to put in a realistic performance when the blood is pounding in your ears. I'm enjoying it, and I'm getting better and better.