Daily Inspiration: Meet Kathi Baerns

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathi Baerns. 

Hi Kathi, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have been acting since the age of 4 when I was “discovered” in a grocery store. I had a dark summer tan and long dark hair. A woman from a community theatre approached my mom and asked if I could sing. She cast me as one of the school children in a local production of “The King and I”. I have been doing it ever since. I have mostly done live theatre as a child, teen, young ingénue, lead, mom, grandma, and now older character actress. I did a few local commercials as a kid and modeled for a local department store from about 7 through my teens. I did community theatre and grade, high school, and college productions. In my 20’s, I married, moved to Denver, had kids, and was a stay-at-home mom to my 3 boys but once they all went off to school, in my 30’s, I got an agent and did commercials and print work. My agency also did most of the casting for background/extras when the film and TV industry was big in Colorado, so I am “in” movies like “Ladybugs” and in “Die Harder 2”. I also worked on several episodes of “Perry Mason” and “Father Dowling” when they were filmed here. My big national job was a reenactor on the original “Unsolved Mysteries” playing a woman who had been swindled by a “boyfriend”, I went into radio in the early 90″s as an on-air host in music and talk radio when my agent, at the time, said I was “too old” for most of the work being cast. I did that until 2010 when I “retired” after the company I was working for laid a bunch of us off after being bought out by a national satellite company. I got an agent again and I still do live theatre, acting and directing, commercials, independent films, student films, print ads, and voiceover work. I will never fully retire and have hopes that I will someday get a big national commercial like Clara Peller’s “Where’s the Beef” in my 90″s and go out a star! 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My younger years went pretty smoothly but obstacles came when I was an adult. I married and had kids in my 20’s and became a stay-at-home mom. When my 3 boys were in school, in my 30’s, I got an agent and got some work in commercials. My agency also did almost all the casting for background/extras for what was a booming film and TV industry in Colorado. I am “in” movies such as “Die Harder 2” and “Ladybugs” and several episodes of both “Perry Mason” and “Father Dowling” that were filmed here. My one national SAG role was in the original “Unsolved Mysteries” playing a woman swindled by her boyfriend. At 40, I hit a bump when my agent said I was getting too old for most of the roles being cast and before I quit trying, I faced being told I was too old to play a mom, too young to play a grandma, too heavy to really be pretty but too pretty to play a funny character. I enjoyed the entertainment field so I pivoted into radio, where voice talent and personality were the qualifications, not age or body type. Now as a mature woman, roles in all media are few and far between and my category has a plethora of very talented woman of a certain age that are competing for the same few roles on stage or film. Covid was also very hard. Theatres shut down and other work was very sparse. I did do some zoom plays and zoom table reads of new works. Work seems to be slowly coming back. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Right now, acting is my specialty. I audition for more character, supporting roles. I also direct stage works for adults and kids. I hope I am known for, working hard, knowing my lines, being prompt, reliable, professional, and also open to learning from my directors and fellow actors. I have also gotten quite a bit of work doing acting scenarios to train EMTs, paramedics, police, fire, and law students to deal with real people. I am also able to do unpaid work in student and independent films and being semi-retired, I can work anytime. Most of my younger actor friends are limited because of “day jobs”. I think the only thing that might set me apart is years and years of experience in all sorts of media. 

What does success mean to you?
Working at something you love and being able to communicate joy, sorrow, love, laughs, and entertainment to your audience. Being respected by your peers. 

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathibaernsactresspage

Image Credits:
Soular Radiant Photography
Brian Landis Folkins Photography