We were lucky to catch up with Kim Watkinson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kim, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

Strutting steps behind my mother on the catwalk in Tokyo, Japan at age 5. Modeling continued to be a good source of income in my hometown. But it was also way to be of service to fellow models and the crew. I speak, read, and write Japanese so I was able to serve as a translator and cultural liaison. BTW Later in life, in LA, I was also able to assist on the set of FOX TV’s “Bones” with my language skills.

My voice-over career also began early. At age ten, I was voicing characters for Japan Airlines in-flight films. I may have also been one of the first voices of robots!

At about the same time, I was cast as a regular on a TV series entitled “A Step to English.” I picked up a few comedic tricks from the famed lead, Baku-chan.

After graduating from UCLA’s Theatre Arts program, I worked as an actor and had the good fortune of studying voice with Arthur Lessac (creator of the Lessac Kinesensic Training) and Sue Blu known for her roles in Transformers and the Smurfs. In the US, my first commercial was for Southern Bell. It was a treat getting to work with another UCLA Theatre Arts graduate.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My ability to speak, read and write Japanese and English is a gift. I’ve been able to translate for fellow creatives in Japan and the US. It makes me happy to serve as a bridge-maker between cultures…Believe I answered how it all began in the first question =)

I am grateful, too, that I am able to inhabit characters from age five to ninety with my voice! And as an Anglophile, it tickles me that I am accepted as a Brit!! If curious, please kindly visit https://www.fiverr.com/storyteller_kim…Sooo appreciative of the lovely people I have worked with and left wonderful reviews.

Of course, I am bookable for any kind of acting, voice over or print work through Eden Talent in Denver.

Side note: I believe my passion for travel has brought greater depth to my work. It’s given me perspective on life and the characters I see in scripts.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I am an avid James Clear fan. He wrote “Atomic Habits.” His social media posts are always positive and encouraging. My greatest takeaway from his work is focus, self-acceptance and kindness.

John-Roger and John Morton who are Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA) ministers are incredibly inspiring. The ecumenical MSIA church has been the backbone of my spiritual growth. With the inner work – by Grace – many, many miracles have happened…And I am working hard to make many more miracles appear!

Joel Osteen is another spiritual leader I admire. His sermons prodded me to give up the idea that one can be too old to pursue dreams. Who made up that rule, right?

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

It’s not original. But I think many can relate to the idea of not being good enough, talented enough, young enough, pretty enough etc. etc. etc. But after enough heartaches (and therapy) yours truly said enough! I had to let go of words and scenarios of the past and move forward to a new day, a new story.

A new story where I am allowing myself to be kind in thought, word and deed to myself. It hurts too much to do otherwise. Not saying I am on Cloud Nine all day. But when I dip and am disappointed that I didn’t get a job, I only give the monkey mind so much reign. I am a good actor. There are so many variables in casting. So instead of focusing on what didn’t happen as I would have loved. I gently nudge myself forward …Forward to greater fun!

I saw Maya Angelou on Tik Tok the other day say something about mistrusting people who cannot laugh. We are all so very human so why not laugh about all our shenanigans? Maya Angelou also quoted an African proverb about not trusting a naked man who wants to give you a shirt….There is always so much to learn and unlearn in this world, isn’t there?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fiverr.com/storyteller_kim
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theninjabaker/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimknodewatkinson/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KimWatkinson
• Other: https://www.backstage.com/vo/kim-watkinson/
  https://www.backstage.com/u/kim-watkinson/

Image Credits

Luke Sydow Photography
V.A.L.U. Production Photos Courtesy of Jesse Babb