KIMBERLY Huie may not be a household name, but the Kingston-born, Torontoraised actress is slowly building a name for herself on screen and stage.

She was recently in Jamaica on family business, but used the opportunity to explore professional possibilities.

“I have just written, produced and directed a short film which I hope to shop on the film festival circuit and hopefully make its way back here,” she said during an interview with the Sunday Observer. “The film is called The Intervention, and it’s a light-hearted look at addiction. I really don’t want to give too much away, but I will say it is inspired by the places I have been and the people I have met.”

Judging from her body of work it is clear Huie has been a ‘few’ places and met a ‘few’ people.

Her acting credits include spots on the television series G-Spot, Saving Grace, CSI: Miami, Grey’s Anatomy, More of Me, ‘Til Death, Beautiful People, NYPD Blue, Chicago Hope and Malcolm & Eddie.

Among her film credits is the sci-fi drama Deep Impact in which she played opposite Hollywood star Blair Underwood.

“It was great working with Blair as in addition to being very lovely and charming, he was a joy to work with and has a great fondness for Jamaica. That made it easy for us to bond and made for a great point of departure for discussions the first day we met on set,” said Huie.

With such a wide and varied career, Huie stated that she keeps in the game by always seeking to improve her craft.

“It’s all about perseverance and focus. I like to call it doing my own homework. I go out to see what other people are doing on screen and on stage. I constantly take classes to broaden my range… this prevents me from becoming too specialised and one-note… it keeps me open and helps me to explore my diversity.”

She adds that being Jamaican has also helped her land acting jobs.

“I remember this one incident in which I was reading for a director in Los Angeles and when he looked at my resume he realised that I do an authentic Jamaican accent.

“I was doing my lines and he asked me to do it with my Jamaican accent and he was so impressed. He could not get over how I pronounced the word ‘yoga’ with my Jamaican accent,” she explained.

Huie is calling for the local film industry to band together and get the word out that Jamaica is ready for the world to come in and take advantage of the facilities which are available here.

“Toronto is now the number one location to shoot for the Hollywood set and they have been able to do this thanks to tax incentives. Jamaica needs to get that in place. But in addition once you are able to lure them in you must be able keep them coming back.”

There’s no slowing down for this actress. Once she returns to Toronto, Huie is immediately on the set of a short film and then it’s off to New York for some auditions.

Despite this hectic pace, Huie still has her eyes set on her dream project.

“I would love to do something that shows the strong, dynamic side of Caribbean life. I want a character similar to Kerry Washington in Scandal, with a Caribbean flavour… a Jamaican superhero perhaps,” she quipped with a chuckle.