The official website of British actress Kimberly Freeman

8.7.09

4th July Celebrations

So my 4th of July was spent in New Jersey in a town called Seaside Park , close to Toms River.

I was kindly invited by one of my class mates to take part in an American 4th of July celebration.

The weekend included lots of tanning by the pool, BBQ's, fireworks and drinking a bit!

I have not had such a lovely, relaxing weekend since my arrival in NYC. Being surrounded by the beach, bay and sea air made me miss Hastings and I reminisced a lot about sunny days back home, walking along the pier and getting fresh donuts my cousin was making along the seafront.

The boardwalk in NJ was very similar to the tourist section in any seaside town with the fried food, children's roller coaster rides, and arcade style games. The only difference being that the accents were American instead of English and it was a lot more expensive!!

The foods enjoyed were Funnel Cake, Zeppeles, Pretzels and various other fried goodies. I honestly felt my arteries clog at one point and have eaten salad everyday since!

Funnel Cake-topped with icing sugar

Almond coated Pretzel from Aunty Anne's

Cinnamon- Sugar coated pretzel sticks

Even though I don't know all the words to the American National Anthem, I am beginning to feel more and more American every day. Maybe I could do the citizenship test on food alone?

25.6.09

I cant do this

I knew I was going to say that this was too hard for me at some point and that day has arrived.

In class today, I nearly cried and told my teacher that "I cant do this". It was probably the most pathetic I have felt in a long time.

Just the thought of giving up because I was finding something too hard was easy. However the thought of giving up my life's dream and accepting defeat was not an easy pill to swallow. I spat it out.
That second of realisation (that this was my dream and I wanted this) forced me to change and I was able to overcome the obstacle I was having. I performed my scene and it worked. And I did it. I did what was asked of me. Yes, it was hard work. Yes it was difficult. Yes it took something out of me I never knew I had. But I did it.

On the subway home, I was so mad at myself. So mad that even for a second I thought of giving up just because I found something hard and felt I could not deliver what was wanted of me.

I can do this. I will do this. I have wanted this for my entire life. I have sacrificed so much to be here and this is my dream......... I CAN DO THIS!

22.6.09

Shake Shack

This is not an edited picture. This picture beautifully illustrates the stupidly long line outside a burger joint called Shake Shack in Madison Square Park.

Now, I like a veggie burger as much as the next person. However I feel waiting in line for 90 minutes (no joke) in the NYC heat for a burger seems like a huge waste of time to me.

Today curiosity got the better of me. Having taken a bus past the above mentioned queue several times a day for the last 3 months, I gave in to temptation.

I got off my bus 3 blocks early in order to try the Shake Shack.....I was not disappointed.

INTRODUCING THE SHROOM BURGER.......

It was heaven. I felt all the stress from my 10 minute wait in the rain disappear with every mouthful.

I really hope that my trainer at the gym is not reading this as I describe to you dear reader, the wonders inside the fried outer casing.

As the name suggests, there is indeed mushroom. Not any old mushroom I will have you know. 2 portabello mushrooms sandwiching together 2 different types of cheese (muenster and cheddar).

This mushroom/ cheese combo is topped with lettuce, tomato (remember to pronounce it the American way) and a special sauce which is as mysterious as it is delicious.

I also ordered a milkshake as I felt it was the American thing to do. I wish I hadn't. I am not a huge ice-cream fan and an entire cup of the liquidised stuff did nothing for me.

If anyone comes to visit the sweet old US of A and makes it to NYC....visit this burger joint. Whilst I would avoid it during the tourist season/ lunch rush, it is definitely worth stopping in on a rainy day or early evening.

If anyone from the gym is reading (or my family), my diet is going extremely well and I feel that the burger contributed towards at least 4 of my 5 a day fruit and veg. It also contained at least a weeks worth of fat but by God I enjoyed every ounce of it.

14.6.09

Suffering from flu in June!!!

So I have been pretty ill for the last week which is annoying. Thankfully the weather has been horrible so I have not missed much sunshine.

I have been diagnosed with flu and mild pneumonia so the inhaler has had to come out of my medical bag and I am on antibiotics.

Not swine flu thankfully (although that would be uber glamorous!!! lol).

I wish I could say that I was using this time constructively and studying loads of plays and characters but alas, all I am doing is sleeping and watching Chaos (the kitten) play with his toys.

I hope to have more to report once my health has improved.

Kim

27.5.09

Making a house a home

I have become Etsy obsessed recently.

Just look at these cushions I have bought for my apartment.

I love them.

They are made by a seller called OIive(thats oiive).

The motto for her site is "may you find something you cant live without" and I certainly have.

Next on my list is the "take me anywhere suitcase", "keys please",and "personalise a postcard" pillows. I just cant wait for my 2 cushions to arrive

23.5.09

Fleet Week

I have officially entered tourist mode again after spotting some sailors. It was too much for a girl to handle and I plain forgot where I was and how I am supposed to be trying to be a New Yorker!!. lol.

I have my priorities so so wrong. Instead of looking at these gorgeous sailors just walking about the Village.....I was admiring how crisp and white their uniforms were! Ok...that was a lie. lol.

I just cant believe its a real holiday. It just seems too good to be true.

I am hoping to go see some of the boats tomorrow and heading out with my friend to take full advantage of Memorial Day celebrations.

I even have a new maxi dress to show off my English self in.

God Bless America

21.5.09

All about school

I know the point of this is to keep you all updated with what I am doing and I know I am terrible at that. My excuse is that......everyting is so new and exciting still, I am almost always overwhelmed by my surroundings.

School is amazing. It is so nice to finally be doing what I have wanted to do forever.
I feel myself growing as an actress and developing my technique and core understanding or who I am, what my situations are, why I am doing what I want to be doing.

Some things I am learning at the school seem so obvious (Uta Hagan- Six Steps), I cant believe I even considered them before.
I have always acted what I feel a character would do in a situation, but my development, understanding and technique has never been there so even though I may revisit a familiar character....I approach her in such a different way that it shocks me.

I didn't realise how much I had to learn and I am absolutely loving it. I have never been so open to learning anything (ask my father!!) and it thrills me.
I am absorbing Stanislavski, Hagan, Chekhov (Michael) like they are copies of Glamour magazine.

The scene study classes I take are incredibly difficult (and I choose to do three of them....idiot me!!!).
Shakespeare is amazing. I have found a new love for the Bard and language that was once a torture I seem to be enjoying.
For Chekhov class I am working on 3 sisters. A play I had never previously read so was approaching with caution. My teacher has shown me how to not just trust the language but have fun with a character. Having a director teach is so different to being taught by an actor. They can see things I cant, and its good practise for me to learn to work for someone else's vision instead of forming my own ideas about a text.
The third scene study class I am taking is not focused on a particular playwright. I am currently working on the Vagina Monologues which is like nothing I have ever done before. The help and guidance I receive in this class is so encouraging and makes me want to work harder.

Right guys. I hope that was enough of an update.

I promise to write soon

Kimberly