Kirsten, how did you get started as an actress?
I was in a science magnet school growing up, and my mom put me in theatre classes. I think in an attempt to make me well-rounded. Unfortunately it backfired when I went to college and ditched the STEM degree for a theatre degree. I had a classical theatre background, but I auditioned for an improv troupe in college (on accident, I was dragged there by a friend) and got cast. Turns out I was funny. I had no idea.
I know that you also work as a writer. Do you have a preference for either writing or acting?
I find acting much less stressful. As an actor you’re only responsible for one character in the story, as opposed to every, single character. That’s a lot of power.
Tell me about GODS Dot Com.
I love Greek mythology, it’s still so universal. My writing partner, Richard Ciccarone, and I started working on the idea of displaced Greek gods trying to make ends meet. We decided they were trying to cash in by running an internet startup, and it all sort of came together. The stories are all inspired by various myths, but the gods themselves are still kind of stuck in the past. It turns out Greek myths are super scandalous. And kind of filthy. Which I love. You can’t have enough bawdy comedy.
What are you currently working on?
I shot a really great pilot by Kymberly Harris recently called MILK, directed by Paul Kampf and starring Victorian Smurfit. It’s a comedy about moms in LA and trying to navigate the entertainment industry while raising kids. My character is a crazy “Momager.” Richard and I are also working on a script for a YA novel by Gretchen McNeil that we’ve optioned. And I’m getting ready to see my son in his first school play. I’m debating whether or not I’m supposed to bring flowers to opening night. Maybe I’ll make one out of LEGOs.
What are some of your son Felix’s interests?
Felix is six. His dream is to be on Master Chef Junior. Although in all honesty, those kids are amazing. They’re much better than I am, so someone who isn’t me is going to have to teach him how to do that stuff. I used to use the fact that he wanted to be a chef to get him to try new foods. “You don’t have to like it, you just need to know what it tastes like so you can cook with it…” kind of thing. One day I tried that with an artichoke, and he looked at it for a minute, then he looked at me and said “I want to be a dessert chef.” And it was all over after that. Now I can only get him to try new things like creme brûlée.
How do you balance being a working mom and also taking care of your family?
My husband and I really function as a team. My work is often less flexible as far as hours go — it’s hard to know if you’re going to be wrapped in time to pick up the kid — so he’s great about working around my crazy schedule. As far as sanity goes, I learned really early on to just embrace the chaos. Spitup stain on the vintage velvet chair? No problem, just flip the cushion over. Kid only wants to eat popcorn for breakfast? Sure, it’s the same ingredients as his cereal only without the sugar. Last minute audition? Drop him at the neighbor’s house. Crazy frizzy hair day? Special shout-out to Lorde for making that one fashionable. I’ll just pretend that I’m 20-years-old again.