Q&A with Kimberly Beck

Kimberly Beck is an American former actress and model, best known as a "scream queen" for her role as Trish Jarvis in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) and her appearance in Independence Day (1996). Starting as a child actress, she appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie and numerous commercials before starring in films like Massacre at Central High.

Beck will be in Las Cruces this week for the Las Cruces International Film Festival. The Bulletin asked her for some thoughts about the event.

LCB: Do you have a prior connection to New Mexico, or specifically Las Cruces, and what is your impression of this area?

KB: I love New Mexico! When my husband Jason Clark was producing the TV show “Cosmos" and the film" A Million Ways To Die In the West,” we lived in Santa Fe. It was such a wonderful experience. The wide-open desert and clean air were spectacular.

Two years ago we visited Las Cruces and I really fell in love with the historic architecture and the people of Las Cruces were the best, so kind and welcoming. It was just the best experience, and I am so looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones when we visit this year.

LCB: Share a little about what motivated you to follow a career path in the film industry?

KB: Because my first job as an actress was when I was two years old portraying Jimmy Stewart’s daughter in The FBI Story, I can’t say this was a career path I chose. But I love that I had so many great parts as a child and in many ways my young experiences as an actor informed my decision to act as an adult.

It was just what I did, what I loved doing and I counted myself lucky to be able to work and support myself for many years as an actor. I always was in an acting class when I was a working actor, I wanted to be the best I could be and classes kept me honing that craft. My mother was an actor, Cindy Robbins, so it was in my blood from the beginning!

LCB: What do you want people in the audience to experience when they see one of your films?

KB: I don’t think I really thought about what the audience felt, what I focused on was being as real and true to the character I was portraying. In essence, method acting. I started studying at The Strasberg Institute when I was 17 and always worked with method acting coaches. For me it was deeply satisfying to really connect with a character because it just flowed. Thinking about this makes me miss acting a little bit.

LCB: What is your personal experience with film festivals like this one, and what advice would you give to some of the less-well-known filmmakers who are participating in the Las Cruces International Film Festival?

I think the most exciting part of film festivals is seeing the new creative ways of storytelling. The artists making these independent films have no allegiance to a studio, therefore creative freedom and character driven narratives usually prevail, and I find that really compelling.