Meet Cecilia Kim | Actress & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cecilia Kim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cecilia, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I first started acting, I felt like I wasn’t going anywhere, and to fill that void, I kept myself busy with all kinds of different projects. I was writing and producing as much as possible on top of working two day jobs and taking acting and writing classes in my free time. It was as if by keeping myself busy, I believed I was working towards something. I’ve come to learn that less is more. I didn’t have a life when I was filling all my time. Now, I practice work life balance by allowing myself to take days off and to turn down work that isn’t acting related. I had to cut out all the noise to finally be able to focus on one thing, and it’s helped me take a step back and enjoy my life just as much as I enjoy my work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Right now, I’m most proud of having been a part of a movie that just wrapped in Atlanta called “Stars Fell Again.” It’s a sequel to the first movie, “Stars Fell on Alabama,” a rom-com set in, you guessed it, Alabama. Why I’m proud of it is not only because it’s my third movie with director VW Scheich and producer Uyen Le (I met the power duo back in 2013), but also because I went from having one scene in the first “Stars Fell” to having an entire character arc in the sequel! This is why you hear people say, “There is no such thing as a small part.” The writer of the show Billions once tweeted how Daniel K. Isaac’s character in the show, Ben Kim, was only supposed to be in one episode–Ben Kim has now been in all six seasons! You just never know when something “small” can become something “big.” What I’ve learned from this is practice humility, be kind and gracious, give your best, and show up on time, and people will remember you and want to continue working with you. And this movie proved that. Also, it’s VW and Uyen’s latest collaboration with writer and executive producer Robert Windom, so it’s obviously going to be amazing, and I can’t wait for it to come out later this year. It’s going to be a hoot!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I actually just went on a hike yesterday in Malibu with my husband and brother, and the views from Sandstone Peak are breathtakingly beautiful. Apparently it’s the highest point in Malibu(?), but don’t quote me on that. Anyway, as you’re walking, you can see the clouds beneath you; it felt like I was literally walking on clouds. It’s definitley a sight to be seen. I’d love to take my friends there. Then we can drive a few minutes off the PCH to Le Café de la Plage where they’ve got delicious brunch items that are locally sourced and yummy espresso drinks like their lavendar honey latte, which is what I ordered when I was there. I also love taking out-of-town visitors to Malibu Cafe and Calamigos Ranch. I never go out of my way to drive out there, so if my friends are in town, I’d make a day of it!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My father definitely deserves a lot of credit for where I am today. It was he who supported my decision to become an actress and who encouraged me to apply to NYU and major in Drama. I didn’t even know what NYU was! He was the one who drove me to acting classes in high school and who went with me to my first acting competition where I met NY and LA agents who wanted me to relocate to NY and LA. Even at my lowest points in my career, when I was ready to give up, he’d assure me that my million-dollar role was coming. I just had to be prepared. He made the impossible seem possible. I didn’t realize how much his support carried me through the years until I visited my parents recently. I flipped through a binder filled with old newspaper clippings of pageants I had been a part of and prints of old headshots I had taken as a teenager. I had forgotten how much my father had been my number one fan since the very beginning and realized then that I don’t give him enough credit for that. So, thanks Appa, I dedicate this Shoutout to you!

Website: www.cecilia-kim.com

Instagram: instagram.com/ceciliakimmm

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/ceciliakimmm

Twitter: twitter.com/ceciliakimmm

Facebook: facebook.com/ceciliakimmm

Other: imdb.me/ceciliakim

Image Credits
Dana Patrick