| Alice Krige has displayed her acclaimed thespian skills in theater, television, and film. Her resume is an eclectic mix of genres, having performed the classic plays of The Immortal Bard with The Royal Shakespeare Company and having graced the silver screen in many motion pictures, including Chariots of Fire, Ghost Story, Sleepwalkers, and the hit Star Trek: First Contact in which she played the Borg Queen. "I have been extremely fortunate to have had roles from one end of the spectrum to the other," she says. "I've worked across the oard in every possible way." Now she joins the talented cast of Hallmark's HIDDEN IN AMERICA, available on video. When she read the script, the powerful story of an out-of-work father struggling to feed his family, it moved her so deeply that she "wanted to be a part of it very, very much." She and the entire cast, which includes Bruce Davison, Frances McDormand (Academy Award winner in Fargo), and Jeff Bridges (who was also executive-producer of the film) were "driven by a passion" for the subject matter. Beau Bridges, whom Ms. Krige calls "a hugely focused actor," gives a heartbreaking performance as Bill Januson, trying desperately to support his two young children, played brilliantly by Shelton Dane and Jena Malone. After viewing the finished film, Ms. Krige found herself "quite overwhelmed. I had no idea of how widespread malnutrition was among children in the United States." On any given night, over five million children in America go to bed hungry. "The powerful story speaks to the whole family," the actress says. "Mom and Dad can sit and watch it with their children...and there's some really important issues to talk about afterward." HIDDEN IN AMERICA highlights a national fundraiser / awareness campaign to support the charitable Fast Forward To End Hunger program and the End Hunger Network, co-producer of the film. Launched in 1996 by the Video Software Dealers Association and the End Hunger Network, which was founded by actor Jeff Bridges, the organization has raised more than a million dollars with a grassroots effort supported by more than 8,000 home video retailers, distributors, and suppliers. Showtime Original Pictures and Evergreen Entertainment presented a $50,000 donation to the charity, the first unified video industry campaign devoted to ending childhood hunger in America. Alice Krige comments, "Whoever watches HIDDEN IN AMERICA and says I wish there was something I can do to help...there is!" Thousands of video stores throughout the country are participating in Fast Forward To End Hunger. Consumers can donate whatever they can afford, contributing dollars and spare change to collection boxes at their neighborhood video store. Ms. Krige points out that "100% of their donation actually goes directly to local food drives and organizations in their community. It's really a wonderful thing." Ms. Krige stresses that the entire production and campaign is a result of the hard work and passionate dedication of many talented people who have created an entertaining and emotional drama with an important message at its core. "Showtime, Evergreen Entertainment, Rich Goffman and Wayne Mogel (at Valley Media, formerly known as Star Video Entertainment), are all very committed to this project...I want Rich and Wayne to know that their contributions to the cause are appreciated...I'm not just plugging something. It's very important." ~ This interview was reposted with the permission of the author. You may contact him at nickleshi@aol.com ~ |
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