What a glorious country this is! I am here shooting a new and wonderful show for Fox called "MENTAL". My costars are the one and only Annabella Sciorra and Chris Vance, Derek Webster, Marisa Ramirez, Nicholas Gonzales and Warren Kole. We are here shooting 13 episodes under the watchful eyes of Deborah Joy LeVine and Dan Levine and being directed by the genius Guy Ferland. This show is a coproduction with Fox TeleColombia- hence, this is where we are! It's a long way from Vancouver, let me tell you- and it feels very strange indeed, not to be donning an NTAC vest and going into battle with Joely Gretsch! We were all so incredibly sad over at The 4400 when our lovely show was not picked up for a season 5... and indeed when the wonderful fan petitions etc fell on deaf ears. We would have so loved to have continued the story of Promise City and the world under Jordon Collier! But it was not to be. So we've all had to skedaddle off to the four winds in search of work. Directors are working on other shows, actors are being cast in pilots and movies, and the beloved crew are still Vanky-side but working on new shows shooting in Canada.
And here I am in Colombia. A lot of my friends and family expressed concerns for may safety here- the country having quite a checkered and bloody history- but we are all being well looked after. The people themselves would have to be one of the kindest and friendliest people I've encountered. And my Spanish is getting better by the minute! Coming from Australia, and being a part of the British Empire, we were forced to learn French and German in our schools. Never Spanish! I'm sincerely hoping by the time we wrap in November, I'll be able enjoy all the on set mischief making in SPANISH! Look out for the goof reel, huh?

Wow, I can't believe how long it has been since the last update. It has been pretty crazy, I can assure you. But when I think of everything going on in my little life, let me tell you it just pales to what others are going through. My heart goes out to all those who have been affected by the devastating earthquake in China and the cyclone in Burma. It's just too terrible for words. It is being reported that the death toll from the earthquake in China could reach 50,000. For anyone interested in making donations:
The public can donate to the RCSC (Red Cross Society of China) through the following bank account: for RMB donations, the address is the Dongsi Office, Beijing Branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the account number is 0200001009014413252; for foreign currency donations, the address is Jiuxianqiao Branch of CITIC Bank and the account number is 7112111482600000209.
The RCSC has also opened a hotline on +86-10-65139999 and 86-10-64027620 for consultation during normal business hours.
You can also make a donation through the Australian Red Cross by going to: https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonations.asp

The death toll for the cyclone in Burma has reached 38,491 and is expected to climb. For anyone wishing to make a donation they can go to the DEC appeal at:
https://www.donate.bt.com/bt_form_cyclone.html
There's a very good article to read about Cyclone Nargis explaining the aid situation in that area: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3911696.ece

Wikipedia puts the deathtoll for the terrorist attacks of September 11 at 2,998. Can you imagine a death toll of 50,000 and climbing?

And here we are sending seeds to the USA network to bring back our show. We are really blessed, are we not? That these were our big concerns over Christmas and into the New Year. Don't get me wrong, I sent seeds too!!! And your efforts were so appreciated, I can assure you. Unfortunately, most of our seeds were returned to sender and our letters went unread... I tell you what - if you could dig back into that pocket and send donations to the quake and the cyclone appeals, your commitment would not only be appreciated but your help would be beyond measure- you could bring clean water to these area's, help stave off disease and save countless lives.

So, let's help. Let's send our 'seeds' this time to China and Burma.

By now you will probably have heard THE 4400 has been officially cancelled. YIKES but what a terrible thing! I did so love my job! And you all know I did! I've been talking to the other actors and the writers and producers and we are all really really really sorry that this has happened. Now, the wonderful fans of the show have organised a 'petition'.... read on for a chance to save THE 4400:

Today in America it's the 1st of February. This is the launch of the extra special campaign that fans of The 4400 have launched in order to save our show. They are sending SUNFLOWER SEEDS to the head of THE USA NETWORK.
We have already made the news! Check this out:
http://www6.comcast.net/entertainment/articles/2008/02/01/Save.The.4400/

So, we are all visiting the special sunflower-seed online store who have kindly agreed to handle this 'petition'. It's really easy to do... so please head over there and send a bag of 'Dr Burkhoff's' favourite snack! That way we can all get back to 'Promise City' and back to good work!!!
Here's the site:

http://giantseeds.com/save-the-4400.html

When the networks cancelled the show called "Jericho", fans sent in peanuts. It worked and the show was brought back! Lets get The 4400 back to business! YAYAY! Thanks so much for your time- it's a great cause! And please please please tell your mates!!
xx
Jacqueline McKenzie
("Diana Skouris")

If the show does not go ahead into a 5th season, I will be so sad to say goodbye! I cannot begin to tell you what an amazing experience it has been. From the first meeting with Maira, Scottie and Ira in a room on Pico all those moons ago... and then being asked back to read with Joely (who was already cast as Tom Baldwin)... and then being directed by the wonderful Yves Simmoneau at the final screentest-there in a boardroom with 20 suits! Well, it surely has been one hell-of-a-heavenly ride! I will miss the crew so terribly- too many to name here- and Hershal will miss all his pals too. My bod will probably never be the same without the incredible training I've had with "Miss D" (Danielle Steiner!)... I'm already a bootcamp desperado- and I've not even had Christmas pudding!! So I've just signed to a new trainer here in Oz! Yes, Chief is whopping my a#% into serious shape....OOUUUCH! Seriously though, I'm finding it hard to keep to the subject: possibly having to bid The 4400 farewell...It's too scary!! What will I do without my buddy Joel!? We have come through so much together. I've so enjoyed witnessing his level of commitment to the scripts and to his character- he's a true inspiration... and what about lovely Pattie and his adventures and his childlike awe at everything around him and Aussie Jen with her off-the-set aussie banter and Megalyn with the dancing eyes and the nutty Ninja and the ever gracious and graceful Ali and the wicked Billy C and the hilarious Jeffrey Combes and sweet Sommer and the gorgeous and loyal Richard Kahan and the hotto potoootie Kaj, and the chick we all miss terribly again- the one and only Sam Farris, and what about the one little chicklet-the not so little (anymore) chicklet- on whom everyone has a crush -my very own buddy and onscreen daughter Conchita Cambell... and without the mischief making wickedness of Kavan Smith we could all fizzle up and become laugh starved prunes- between he and 'Uncle Joely' -well, one can't find that level of hilarity just anywhere! The whole wonderful cast and crew are really like family to me- with Scottie and Ira and Maira as our elders and darling Josie Ochej, our sister girl.... Oh Gawd... don't get me started! Seriously, "don't even get me started"...

In the meantime, I'm keeping this shorter than usual as I'm taking Hersh to the dog beach - it's low tide and it also looks fit to rain... so, one way or another we're going to get wet!

I want to thank you for stopping by my site and sharing the music and paintings - I just do them because I just love to do them and they are fun to share...

And I want to wish you the happiest of Christmases and Holidays! May it be one filled with love, friendship and a feeling of belonging. Cheers big ears!

Its been a LONG TIME since i've updated this news, ay? Sorry about that... but it's been a crazy time and I've been catching up with family and friends and getting reconnected with all things 'home' in Australia. It's SO WONDERFUL to be here again. I'm so fortunate to travel, as I do, for work... but boy oh boy is it good to come home. And I've seen the most wonderful theatre since I've been here. Honestly, the calibre of acting here is extraordinary. I get asked in interviews a lot "Why is it that there are SO MANY wonderful Aussie actors"... and I kind of shrug and shuffle my feet, with no real answer... Not that I'm going to give you any real answer now but i will ask YOU "WOW! Why is it that aussie actors are SO BRILLIANT!!??"... I've seen some simply amazing theatre in Sydney- more recently at the wonderful Belvoir St Theatre. I saw a genius production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf- tough play, yeah? NOT THIS NIGHT.... i mean, i wouldn't want to dine with Martha or George myself... but it was a complete tour-de-force. Marton Cokas (Bourne Identity 2, Romulus My Father) and Catherine McClements (countless amazing theatre credits and more recently known to tv fans for WaterRats) were so brilliant, so electric i came out in a sweat listening to them have at it.... I bit all my nails down... YIKES!.... I saw a fabulous production of Love and Money at a little theatre in Woolloomolloo called The fitzroy- which is basically a room in a pub!- and it was world class... One of our leading Shakespearian actors Christopher Stollery was in that... And then just this past weekend I caught "Jesus hops the a Train" at downstairs Belvoir St (it HAS to transfer to upstairs PLEASE!!) which starred Wayne Blair (also wearing director hat) and Annie Finsterer... This play was so moving, my friend and I burst into sobs at one point. And I looked around me and saw an audience of eyes brimming with tears and people reaching for their tissues... the space is SO small and therefor SO intimate- there's no room for any false kind of acting here... And these actors really went through it for us... they took us somewhere else and we came out the other side enriched and moved and talking talking talking all about it... You can also catch one of Wayne Blair's short films on UTUBE. It's called Jubulj.
Find it at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THYXI5YBXac
You'll agree with me, this aussie director is one to walk over hot coals to work with.

The other thing I've seen since I've been here is "FORBIDDEN LIES"... a movie made by a wonderful friend of mine Anna Broinowski. Trying to find the truth of Norma Khouri- the disgraced writer of the book "Forbidden Love"- about an honor killing in Jordan... honestly, if this movie comes your way- you MUST see it... it's like a thriller- but it's a documentary style piece.

My friend Skritch is touring America + London with his band MARYTREMBES... info can be found at :
www.myspace.com/marytrembles
so if you're in any of those places any time soon- be sure to check them out... they are one of our greatest up-and-coming bands...

In the meantime, I'm headed over to LONDON again this year to attend the London EXPO with Billy Cambell, Richard Kahan and Geoffrey Combs to sign autographs and meet fans! YAYAYAY! See you there Elo, Flo and Stephanie!! bring chocolate! For anyone interested in meeting loads of sci-fi/anima stars etc, info can be found at:
http://www.londonexpo.com/

I've no news as to whether or not The 4400 will be coming back... your guess is as good as mine... there are so many factors that go into play with these things... I DO know, that they have not sold our 'sets' nor our costumes and that our NTAC cars are all still on the sound-stages in Vancouver. I know Jenni, Joel, Billy, myself and all the gang really want to go back and make another season for you! So FINGERS CROSSED and write those letters on the message board:
www.the4400.com

well folks, it's time for me to go and feed Hershal!

be well and stay out of trouble (only the BAD kind... a little GOOD trouble is something else entire!)

The countdown is on again as we are nearing the premiere of season 4 The 4400: Sunday June 17th, 9pm/8 central on USA Network, then each Sunday after that for 12 weeks. Let me tell you folks, it’s BETTER THAN EVER!! Joely and I were only saying over coffee the other day “Aren't the scripts amazing?" They’re always engaging and always incredlibly topical and always have tremendous heart. They’re a pleasure to work on.

We are currently shooting the 9th episode of this season (called Episode 41) under Nick Copas direction and I thought I’d take you with me for a little while…

Today, we’re shooting in Ladner. It’s a small former fishing town just outside of Vancouver. Our ‘circus’ of trailers- makeup, hair and starwagons can be found by a creek adjacent to a herb farm. I have Hershal (my 18month cairn terrier) with me. He’s already smelling the chooks and farm smells and is agog looking out the back window of the car….
As Stevie drives us up to my trailer, we’re met by Sai, our 3rd AD
“Hi Jac! Hi Hershal bud, how are you!?” And he gets down on his haunches to pet my dog. Hershal is all over him. Let me tell you, they ARE buddies.

I go into my trailer and it’s neat as a pin- Sam or Jonesy has cleaned it immaculately… again. The aircon is whirring and already a bowl of oatmeal with cranberries, brown sugar and rice milk sits on my table.
My costumes are neatly laid out with a note:
“Jac, we have your NTAC vest and jkt on set. See you out there!” costumes

I peel out of my own civvies and begin the climb into Diana Skouris shoes. She’s like an old friend to me now- we’re different, she and I, but we’re great friends, nonetheless. I switch on my “US accent tapes for UK and Australian Accents” and begin the drills:
“the fat cat sat on the mat and ate the mango jam”…..

The pink and the blue revisions for the next script sit on my desk and as I down the porridge, recite strange sentences in a foreign tongue, I put the revisions in place. Yes- multi-tasking but never as efficiently as Skouris might! The story line features some original performers (can’t tell you who!!) and it’s a beautie. I cried for 10 minutes whilst reading it- couldn’t see the page through tears- it’s an amazing script. Ira and Craig are in top form…

“Rap rap rap!” on my trailer door…
Sai’s voice: “OK Jac, chair’s free”…

Moments later, Hersh and I climb the stairs of the makeup trailer, shouting “Stepping up!” as we do. We’re met with the cherished chorus of “Hi Jac” and “Hi Hershal” and I fondly make my way down to Janet- who for the fourth year enfolds me in her loving arms
“You want a coffee darling?” she says “There’s one brewed”.
They’ve been here a while already and I can feel the morning rush has subsided. “There are stunts this morning, so we have a little time.” she says… No panic…. yet. I set Hershal on his pillow in his special spot and I pour myself a coffee (Aussie brand: “Treageagle”!) from the pot on the shelf. Above it sit 5 wig-heads- all holding in place hairpieces, wigs, toupe’s, moustaches and side burns- all prepared ready to go on the actors in need!
“Oh, wow!” I say “Is that the wig for that Isabelle doll?”
“Yes! Can you believe it!?” Janet laughs
Her latest challenge- to make the bald baby doll of ISABELLE (that ‘stood in’ for real thing in season 2) look like 4 year old child in a scene where a little girl is supposed to be sleeping. She has her job cut out for her! But then, she did “Lonesome Dove” where final checks on the actors were done from horseback! Imagine trying to fix pin curls and a lip-line from the saddle! What a thing it is, this crazy world of film making.

That I can stand in the makeup trailer and feel a part of this well oiled machine is a great honour. And it’s not always like this. Actors are often kept apart and really not invited. We’re shunted from set to set and kept pretty well in the dark. And some actors like this. They want to come to work, say the lines and go home. Perhaps some productions are just too huge to foster that sense of family that we’ve come to enjoy up here. Here on the set of The 4400, I am on first named basis with every single member of the crew. We are really like a family. Being so far away from home, it’s sometimes what keeps me going!

“Huttt! Get back on your pillow!” I say pointing, and Hershal furtively gets back on his pillow by the hair chair. And now, armed with a bottle of volumizer, Janet goes into her daily battle of making my limp hair appear luscious.

My stand-in, Dawn, bustles into the truck- “Have you heard? One of the stunties has just broken their nose in the stunt!” and so the bus is now a chatter as Dawn is interrogated with the hows, the whys and the wherefores… It’s amazing to have Dawn. In Australia, I never had a stand-in, it was considered a luxury. And so I’ve been in luxury here since filming began- Dawn is one of the few members of crew who’ve worked on the show since the pilot. It really helps to have someone stand in your place whilst they set lights and camera around the spot where we’ll be acting. Especially if it’s really cold and the characters don’t have many clothes on (shooting scenes in ‘Spain’ for instance- the entire crew wearing arctic gear but me in a sarong! Thank goodness a rugged-up Dawn was there whilst I could hunch over a blast heater in a tent nearby until “picture’s up!”…

“Stepping up!”

And a chorus goes up again “Hi Joely! Hi Joel! Our boy!!” as “Tom Baldwin” steps up into the makeup truck…. Well, he looks like Tom Baldwin, but life is lighter for our Joely than his character- thank the lucky stars! Boy oh boy do the crew love Joel. He is a chief maker of much mischief and, in my expert opinion, always behind a giggle-fest. He and Chad (Faust) can barely control themselves sometimes- and it’s been that way since the pilot. Do you remember the scene on Highland Beach where their characters are both locked in a huge shaft of light?… I cannot begin to tell you how hysterical we all were then- I guess it was 4am and we were pretty overworked! But Chad and Joely haven’t got much better since then! The only thing worse- add Billy Campbell into the mix and anyone in the scene has ZERO control. I mean doubled over tears running down cheeks hysteria, for no apparent reason. Goof reel after goof reel we have to prove it. I don’t know why- it’s just the alchemy. Joely and I have tried deconstructing it… and we think it’s because we’re so often called upon to deliver a lot of plot-pivotal information- sometimes really dry techno-speak. In order to do this with any life, we must remain open and vulnerable…. And inadvertently, I guess, ready prey for the tickling eyes of our fellow actors! Either that or we’re all just delinquent. But come on folks, that can’t be right!

Joely tells the trailer his latest news. A charity golf tournament he’ll be playing in (Bagger Vance was not just a movie for him but a passion- he is an awesome golfer and Tiger is his hero!) AND his family are coming to visit for a couple of days and so he is making ready for them. We all can’t wait. His children are adorable and his wife is a honey. She owns and runs a magnificent boutique "Dari" in Los Angeles. It’s where I go when shooting wraps each year, to get out of the Skouris suits and into something more my speed!

“Stepping up!” and, like the clowns in a side-show now, all our heads swivel to watch the door…and…. in walks Lionel, our Best Boy grip) The chorus goes up: “Hi Lionel darling! How’s Laurie?” He’s got 4 roses straight from their garden. They are the most magnificent roses I’ve ever smelled and LOOK! One is coming my way!! Each year when Spring finally hits this cold rainly land, Lionel brings in roses… The kind that make you understand what has become a multibillion dollar quest: to capture the essence of a rose and bottle it. Mine is fushia pink and it’s made my day. Herhshal clambers from his pillow but is NOT (just this once) met with a volley of “back on your pillow!’s”: Lionel is one of his best bud’s, so what can you do?

I tell you what, The 4400 is a nice place to come to work, ay? It’s only when I make my way from one end of the bus (hair) to the other (makeup) to be airbrushed etc do I have any sense of trepidation. Rita (our key makeup) loves to wield those tweezers! Oooouuuuuchhhh! But then again… “do you WANT a mono-brow? Are you growing those fluffy bits on purpose? No? then sit back and let me get them”… and in she goes! Rita and Janet are the heart of the crew for me. Wow what a job for them… they work on hundreds of actors any given week and they never know what they’re going to get! Pimple fests, dirty hair, secret toupe’s, scars to cover… they do their job so brilliantly and with such a sense of fun. It is from them that the tone is set for my day really. If that makeup trailer had a hostile vibe in it, well, I’d be feeling it well into the afternoon. I’ve never had anything but a spring in my step, leaving that trailer. They have me in absolute hysterics – especially when Kavan (“Garrity”) steps up onto the truck- he and Janet have a brutal and hysterical repartee- we just all sit back and watch the show!

Anyway… there’s a little window into the start of a regular day at work on The 4400. I hope you enjoyed it!

In the meantime- congratulations are out there for friends expecting bubba’s: Penna, my darling bestie from Australia and Jamijon making us all laugh from Utah…. Warm wishes! YAY!

So…. Even though I always INTEND to write regularly but never do… I guess you probably won’t hear from me until the show has premiered!

Sundays from JUNE 17, 2007 USA Network, 9pm/8c

Also you’ll find some great stuff at: www.the4400.com

The soundtrack has now become available and my song “Shy Baby” is on it! Get it amazon or www.the4400.com

Season 3 is now available- it has a goof reel, commentaries and other good things…

So that’s all folks, for now. Thanks for stopping by and all the best

It's all system's go go go on the set of THE 4400 season 4! And it feels like we never left! (The only evidence I have to prove we did in fact have a hiatus is my dog's girth! My da has nicknamed him "Keg"...) We have NEARLY all the same crew back... except our gorgeous sound department. LARS and DARRYL and MIKE - we will miss you! Have a great time on whatever it is you're up to...

Ira and Craig are back hunkered down in the writing rooms and the scripts are great. The casting is, as usual, awesome for us too. This first episode guest stars Cameron Bright, the young actor from BIRTH, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, and the latest X-MEN. He is a honey. He's been racing around the place (out-of-hours) in the most flurescent orange runners I've ever seen. They're made of tennis-ball material- which really has Hershal in a flap. He tells me he made $750US in the 'swear jar' on the set of a 2 month movie. He bought an MPEG player and a bike for himself with the proceeds. But get this- he charged $5 per swear word! I am EMBARASSED to report just what our lovely Conchita has earned at the modest price of $1 per swear-word... I am mortified to report that, in all probability, I am the major contributor... We aussie's tend to swear for endearment... not so much in ire or angst... (although that too!) but more like: "Oh Gawd!!! This lunch is %#% awesome! I am so *%%* hungry - I could eat the crotch out of a low flying duck!" You know... and right there, Conchita has earned $2 and is negotiating a third for the not-so-clean visual of duck-eating! Fortunately, we've had an amnesty on the word 'bloody' and on 'damn'. Otherwise, it'd all be over!

Production organized a wacky opening night party- up on Grouse Mountain- skiing and snowboarding and ice-skating at night. Chad, Cameron and I were last seen tearing up the ice at speed.... well, ok, THEY were... i was actually seen hobbling around with a zimmer-frame a little leery of breaking a wrist before shooting the next day! I come from Sydney Australia, alright?! There are no ice-lakes in our back yards... The closest we come to an icerink is a tub full of ice-cubes for our beers at a summer night's party... and we shhkate around that all night... but hay, that's old news...

here's some juice:

1. SHY BABY has been invited to be on The 4400 soundtrack. I've seen the list of songs and let me tell you, we are in FINE company - the CD is going to be amazing. Release date: April 29 in the US. So keep an eye open, huh? I'll let you know any more info as it comes in!
2. The episode of WITHOUT A TRACE I worked on airs Sunday, March 11, 10pm et/pt. "Deep Water" was co-written by Anthony LaPaglia. "Jack and his team search for a missing U.S. Senator, during which they are forced to contend with her powerful and meddlesome father and the media that is tracking the case." So check it out!

CONGRATULATIONS to George Miller on his Oscar win! Congrat's to Martin Scorsese for The Departed... lawdy me, I finally saw it the other night... for those who've not done so already... GET OUT THERE AND SEE IT! CONGRAT's to all the winners and nominee's and NON-nominees... I mean, please, everyone in THE DEPARTED should have won something! MAtt Damon was just a knock-out! Leonardo is vintage Scorsese... Ray Winstone (HAVE YOU SEEN "THE PROPOSITION" yet?! YOU HAVE TO!! ), Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen- OSCAR WINNER'S ALL, PLEASE!!
My darling mate Bill Macy's film WILD HOGS has just opened... saw it Friday night- you have to go see that one too... it's hysterical.

Cutting this short now... have to meet up with a new cast mate Jenny Baird. She's joining us at NTAC and we're about to take Hershal out for a walk along the Sea Wall. He is NUTS for this place!

Thanks for stopping by...

All the best

JM

PS. DON'T WEAR FUR!!! EVER!!!

Meanwhile back at NTAC, we are on the cusp of shooting the fourth season of THE 4400! Camera's roll on Feb 26th with lots of changes afoot, apparently. We've none of us seen a script, so only whispers... once again, we'll be bribing the transport department to sneak us the early drafts! They're always the first to read them!

Am seeing Joel this morning. Did you know his wonderful wife has a fantastic clothes store in Studio City called "Dari". They are 'going online' soon, and today is the launch party. So, anyone who's interested in some really nice stuff to wear, you can shop til you drop from your very own computer nook. I'll get you the details as soon as I have them. I know the first time I went to the store, I came away with a bunch of bags-full... I STILL wear the lime-green corduroy jeans! Sound a bit loud? Well, everyone loves 'em when I wear 'em! I get comments all the time! The shop is majorly classy. There's not a plethora of stuff you have to wade through. Just a great selection of quality stuff - some edgy, some classy, some high end, and some for my end!

Just finished a fantastic stint on Without A Trace with the great Anthony La Paglia. He is such a sweet man. On the set the entire crew sung his praises- from the craft services to the transport department, the costumers and the hair-makeup crew - all of them saying what an amazing person he is to work with- generous and thoughtful. They waxed something lyrical indeed... and that was BEFORE they knew I was a mate! I was blessed to be invited to play. The character was US Senator "Patricia Mills"... so keep an eye out for it! It was a last minute casting- I was in the UK at the time, checking out the National Portrait Gallery and hoping some of that incredible talent would rub off- when the call came through. I was on a plane 12 hours later. Things turn on a dime around here. I'm not sure when the episode will air but it's called "Deep Water" with Alex Carter (playing my husband) and John Doman (as my father).

I love film sets for the different people you meet. There's always such talent. The key makeup artist on Without A Trace is a man called Mike Mills and he has been oscar nominated twice for makeup. He is doing the show as Anthony's makeup artist, but I was lucky enough to have him do my makeup too. We got to talking, as you do in the makeup chair, and he told me not only is he a former marine, but as a hobby he draws- pencil on board. Well, I begged him to bring me in some of his work and he did: a portfolio of photographs he'd taken of a number of his drawings. They were amazing. Quite a lot of military stuff that was not dry at all but FULL of emotion and character. It reminded me of an exhibition that came to the Vancouver Art Gallery a while back- an exhibition of war artists' works from 1913 to Vietnam. Rather than having war photographers sent to the front, war painters/sketchers etc were sent to depict what it was they saw, and how it impacted them. As you can imagine, it was an extraordinary and moving exhibition. And Mike Mill's military sketches belonged in this exhibition. One of the most touching drawings he showed me was of a WW1 pilot: I said to him
"Honestly, Mike, that is breathtaking. It's heartbreaking".
He said "That's my father".
To be able to draw is one thing, but to be able to communicate so many layers of emotion is another. A lot of paintings/portraits I see now look as though they've been copied from a still's photograph. And for the most part, something is lost in the translation. There's such a meticulous attention to the detail of the 'lines' and 'getting it right', but there's not much 'between the lines', if you know what i mean, and they don't seem to affect me as keenly as I'd like. I recognise the hard work involved and the photographic likeness, but the exchange is a cold one, a factual one... not really my cup of tea.
I love the drawings of Van Gogh. Did I tell you I visited the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam late last year? Well, I DID. As a birthday present to myself. I'd been wanting to go there since I started painting. His paintings and drawings are full of story, humility and emotion. They are deeply moving. Utterly breathtaking. The kind of art I care about.

Anyway, am back from the party at "Dari"- the store that has the cool gear! Joel was there and Kiersten came along with me and Kristin Davis was there too. ("EXTRA", the telly show, interviewed us so keep an eye out for that.) I came away with a bunch of gorgeous new clothes. Here's where you can find the goods:
www.shopdari.com
Apparently, the site opens on Feb 14th...

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO YOU ALL!!!!

I found this poem today, in amongst some recipes for cookies and what not. A friend had printed it up for my father and given it to him on Christmas day. I read it for the first time and just thought I'd share it with you. It might just be an inspiration to our lovely Bobble-Head.

IF
by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

Thank you to my lovely MYSPACE friends for your constant support and cyber laughs! A lot of people seem to be in transitions right now so I'm sending my love and support out to you.

All the very best
Cheerio

The sci-fi convention in London was a hoot. Hard work, as ever, with long hours on little sleep but Joel and I had a blast. It was great to meet up with people who so love The 4400. And then we had to judge a sci-fi fancy dress competition... WOW... a few hundred people re-creating their favorite anima characters... Joel and I had never seen anything like it! It was a real eye-opener for us, to say the least! Maybe next time, we'll be more "in the know".
It was also great chance to meet up with actors from other shows: Boti Bliss from CSI Miami, Joe Flanaghan from Stargate and a heap of others.
The first night there, Joel, Boti and I went to the opening of the London Film Festival. The event was directed by Mike Figgis of "Leaving Las Vegas" fame. He and some other directors had made some short films about London. These were screened this night under the stars in Trafalgar Square - a truly memorable way to open a festival....Trafalgar Square... at night.... a live audience, live music.... London, when she's a chill away from real winter... then up there, up on a humungous screen, grainy super16 kind of film-noir shots... some comedy, some tragedy, some Simon McBurney ("Complicite").... The memory of those films already so infused with the experience of seeing them. Unforgettable. It reminded me a little of when Romper Stomper played at the Taormina Film Festival many full moons ago in Sicily. A lot of the films there were screened in ancient stone amphi-theatres. I'll never forget seeing Twin Peaks, the movie in one such place. Surreal, epic and very David Lynch!

Have just got back from Australia where I was flown to launch "The Sci-fi channel" on cable television there. This is where the Aussie's can enjoy The 4400. A lot of Aussie actors, including myself, fly to distant lands in search of work as there's so little at home. To have the work we do 'offshore' shown and appreciated back home is fantastic. I'm thrilled The 4400 will be seen there.

Trivia: Aside from Russell, Judy, Cate, Hugh and Nicole, there are loads of other top-shelf Australian actors working in the US: the wonderful Anthony La Paglia (many movies and now in Without a Trace); Poppy Montgomery (also starring in Without a Trace); Jack Thompson (Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, The Good German); Portia De Rossi (Arrested Development); Dominic Purcell (Prison Break); Simon Baker (tv and films incl The Devil Wears Prada); Sarah Winter (24); Naomi Watts (Mulholland Drive); Geoffery Rush (The Life and Death of Peter Sellers and Pirates of the Caribbean); Peta Wilson (La Femme Nikita); Miranda Otto (War of the Worlds); David Wenham (Lord of the Rings); Jesse Spencer (House); Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers); Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine); Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under); Melissa George (The Amityville Horror); Rose Byrne (Troy); Joel Edgerton (Kinky Boots); Eric Bana (Munich), Jason Clark (Brotherhood); Noah Taylor (Almost Famous) and the amazing Guy Pearce (Memento).... Yes folks, that's a quick list off the top of my head... maybe next update, I'll tell you about some of the directors...

On the music front- not much to report- but when I go back to Vancouver to shoot season 4 in late Feb 2007, I'm hoping to head back into the studio at the weekends to work on new material...

In the meantime- am moving house, hosting Christmas lunch, painting and gearing up for a kickarse New Year!

If I don't update before then.... HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

All the very best to you

JM

PS "SHINE ON SIERRA LEONE" is an online charity. There's some cool things to bid on - including a pair of Justin Timberlake's shoes (!) and a chance to direct a music video... I've also donated a painting for auction. The photo of the painting they have on the site looks a little light in colour. I can assure you, it's a little darker in life. But please, check out the charity auction and make a bid- it's a chance to help bring school houses and teachers to the diamond mining, war ravaged country of Sierra Leone. Try this link and see if anything takes your fancy:
http://www.charityfolks.com/cfauctions/auction_vertical.asp?slrid=112

Joel and I are gearing up to go to a big Sci-fi convention in London in a weeks time. I have spent quite a deal of time in England, so it will be wonderful to be back there! I can't wait to catch up with some good mates! Andii and Colin, here I come!

In the meantime....

It's back to the paintbrushes at last! HOORAY! I'd set up my easel etc in a proper 'studio'- and wouldn't you know it- I couldn't seem to get a brush to canvas! Painters block! So, in a fit of huffing, I've dragged it all back to the old and faithful dining room and have been painting ever since. I'm in amongst dinner plates and photo's and where I can hear the kiddies laughing and arguing and playing recorder really badly next door: I need to hear evidence of LIFE and all it's chaos around me!!! Anyway, I don't know any of the people who decide to pop out of the canvas at me. Sometimes they remind me of people in my life- from my childhood and so on- and sometimes they remind me of characters from books or plays. Sometimes they just evoke feelings- and not necessarily ones I seem to be experiencing. Anyway, I hope you like #87. It's called "The Letter". It reminds me, for some reason, of a childrens book I've not read nor seen since I was about 6 years old. It was called "The Bremen Town Musicians"... If I remember rightly, it was about a bunch of thieves and ill-doers and it left me feeling sickly frightened. Perhaps I was starting to find out about the darker side of the human psyche? Hmmm... Lucky, though, ay? to learn it from a book... others aren't so fortunate.

Am hanging to see The Departed but it's been booked out twice when i've shown up at the theatre! So I'm watching the Showtime series "BROTHERHOOD" ... did you know it stars an amazing AUSSIE actor called Jason Clarke? He is awesome in it... He looks a little like Marlon Brando- anyone think? He was also in a great aussie film called "Rabbit-proof Fence". If you've not seen it, check it out! Whilst I'm onto Aussie films- anyone seen "The Proposition" ? It stars Guy Pearce and Ray Winstone and was written by the great Nick Cave - who also did the soundtrack... This is simply one of the greatest Australian films I've ever experienced. Very violent but then so is our country- the climate, the creatures, the poetry. The film is epic and moving and deeply familiar to me as being 'Australian' and not in the archetypical Crocodile Dundee sense. Keep an eye out for it- Guy is just jaw-droppingly good in it. I have to say- I just love seeing Aussie's up there knocking it out of the park... I like seeing ANYONE knocking it out of the park, actually!

Congratulations to Kiersten Warren for her incredible performance on The Desperate Housewives- She is one to learn by- what an actress! And did you know, she's also and incredible writer- stay tuned, there's a show she's written in the pipeline and it'll be huge...

well..... that's about it for now...

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time!

Cheers
JM

Thanks so much for all the lovely thoughts and messages that get posted on the MYSPACE site. You guys are amazing and such a dedicated bunch. I hope so much next season brings us all some amazing surprises and thrilling story-lines... we'll be working our backsides off for you, I can tell you that right now!!!

In the meantime, I'm chilling... for the first time in a long time I'm able to catch up with pals here in The States and paint and hang with Hershal and write and house-hunt and even get to VISIT ENGLAND at the end of October for a convention... Yes, Joel and I are apparently headed over to meet some of the show's fans there in London. I haven't been to London for a long time and have mates there, so I can't wait to get on that plane!

I've posted 2 more songs on the site. They are from my collaboration with Jim Hayden- an incredibly talented musician and producer who now lives in Australia (he is Welsh, actually). We've been working together on a demo (which is not easy when I'm in Vancouver and he's in Sydney!) and I am blessed to have him in my creative life. He is amazing. Well, I hope you enjoy them!

For anyone in Australia, a film I made with Vince Collossimo is opening this week! It's called OPAL DREAM and was directed by the fabulous Peter Cattaneo- who directed The Full Monty. It's a real little beaut so be sure to check it out! I'm not sure when it opens in the US, but I'll keep you posted.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the brilliant french artist Yves Berger- he is a very dear friend of mine who lives and works in the Haut Savoie, France. Bon Anniversaire!!

Thanks for visiting again...

Although work is no walk in the park by any means, there is something to be said about having one's every move scheduled by production: There's no time to think about anything other than the character and the scenes... certainly no need to plan one's days etc etc, no need to even refer to a map to find ones way to an appointment as we are driven everywhere! Since filming has stopped, I've been all at sea! There's so much to do- what with press and auditions and catching up on 'life interrupted' but, folks, my organisation skills are up the dang creek without a paddle. Where is dear STEVIE ZAPKA my driver/buddy and surrogate set-dad of Hershel???

I've not even managed to post news on this site! Nor even so much as picked up a paintbrush!
My friend Kiersten says: "you're just tired". And you know, she's probably right.

Today however, i woke up! Why?
News of todays press release, of course: it's official: THE 4400 has been picked up for another season!! We will be returning for season 4!! YAYAYAYAY!

Amazing the spring I now have in my step! Since the press release, I've managed to clean the entire house- floor boards, counter tops, windows, kitchen etc etc... and here I am posting news, too! Next thing, I'll be mixing oils! I am SOOOO excited.
We all are.

Last Sunday night we went to Scott's house for a party to watch his episode: "Terrible Swift Sword". It was fabulous to see the gang- Jeffrey Combs, Joel, Chad, Brennan, Ali and Garrett (so lovely to see him- he's not been around since 'Isabelle' killed 'Mathew'!!). Maira Suro was there and lovely John Behring (who directed our season finale last year.) Everyones significant other came along too. It's always lovely to meet the partners of people one works with. We shoot the series in Vancouver, which means a lot of big phone bills and a lot of travel and sometimes a lot of time apart. They have to be the most patient bunch of people!

Anyway, Hershal and I LOVED doing the buddy chat a couple of weeks back. It really was a lot of fun.... you guys make me laugh! I know Joel had a blast too. It would be great to set something like that up for next year- maybe from Vancouver. If it doesn't happen, it's not for lack of interest. I can assure you. It actually costs money to do, and so there are budgetary considerations. I am thrilled Perry Simon (he's one of our exec's) came up with the idea and made the two Buddy-sessions happen. If you want any more, you might have to petition the forum at www.the4400.com

Anyway,
thanks again so much for stopping by and for all your support on the Myspace site. I really appreciate it and know that others are reading your comments... some of your comments have been quoted in articles about the show and about me! So.... much gratitude to you all.

Hopefully next time I post something, it will be a painting....

Don't forget... this Sunday (amazingly whilst the cast of The 4400 attends the post Emmy's party's here in Hollywood) our SEASON FINALE is on: "Fifty Fifty".... be there of be square as it's a winner! USA NETWORK, SUNDAY 9pm/8c

Happy days to you
JM

I feel like I'm coming down to earth again, now the season's shooting is over... It is such a great place to be- on set- with a bunch of people who really, really want to be there.
I've done show's where that's not always the case, you see, but at The 4400 we love going to work. The scripts are awesome, the crew are the friendliest and funniest and most hardworking group of cats you could wish to work with. We are so lucky to have dear Scotty on set every day (unless he is preparing his own episode to direct...) He is, afterall, the creator of the show and he's the heart and soul of it too. We all have such respect and love for Scott Peters.

So... that's it for the 4400 until (HOPEFULLY) next year. Will we be coming back!!?? We never know what's happening until about Oct/Nov. So fingers crossed until then. In the meantime- we're all hitting the pavement for work and doing our own thing. Me? I'm painting and catching up with mates I've missed over the last 6 months.

This SUNDAY, I am hosting a buddTV session for The 4400. It's basically a live web-cam set up, where I sit in front of a computer with a microphone and camera trained on me.
As the show is being aired, I answer questions that any people out there might want answered. So if you want to be a part of this live-feed, please follow this
link: http://www.usanetwork.com/series/the4400/games/countdown/index.html
The episode I'll be hosting is called The Starzl Mutation. It was directed by Alison Liddy-Brown. It's awesome and so is she! We want her back next year.

Okidokey. Thanks for stopping by...

"First trip to the theatre" has been sold at auction and has brought in $610 US dollars for Richard "Marco" Kahan's theatre company! We are thrilled! A huge thanks to anyone who bid... and to the winning bidder! - It was a very generous gesture. There's just never enough funding for theatre in any country. And the theatre is such a magical place to be. I still remember my mum and dad taking my sister and I to see "My Fair Lady" in London. I was 12. I'd never been to the theatre before that.
The closest I'd come was an Abba concert held in a huge park in Sydney called 'The Domain". We were so far away from the stage that Bjorn was the size of an ant. I got my first ever headache squinting through the dark trying to see them and spent the rest of the concert with my head on mum's lap! But "My Fair Lady" was something else entirely. I remember feeling feverish with expectation... lightheaded, even. Everyone coming in to take their seats with the bell sounding from the foyer- people reading their programs in the half light- the orchestra warming up their instruments- the lights going down -looking over to my sister to see what page she was on in the program, checking out who mum and dad were looking at- the first strains of an overture. And then - people on the stage- real people, not like on telly or in a film- but people breathing up there, singing up there, wandering about up there and then making me laugh from up there- and that wonderful experience of an audience laughing together, being a part of the group... It was absolutely thrilling and absolutely unforgettable. Don't you just love the theatre!?
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PLAY, RICHARD!!

In the meantime....

Umney's Last Case has been screened on TNT and will be on repeats. For those who haven't seen it yet, head over to TNT on and have a look. Nightmare's and Dreamscapes: it is a superb series with fantastic performances from the likes of William Hurt, Bill Macy, Tom Berenger, Ron Livingston and wonderfully unsettling stories from the great Stephen King.
I think we should shoot some more!

This weekend Joel, Megalyn, Pattie, Billy Campbell and myself are all going on a trip to San Diego to be a part of COMIC-CON. We are meeting up with Ira Behr and Craig Sweeney and will be a part of a panel discussion with sci fi fans and then signing a stack of autographs. We are doing this on Saturday and we're stoked (Australian for happy). We are having such a wonderful time with our show and have only one week left of shooting... Don't forget to tune in this Sunday night for the latest episode of The 4400 "BLINK". It is guest-starring Brian Dennehy and is incredibly moving.

Ok, that's all folks...
All the best and stay tuned
JM

We have only one episode left to shoot! Nick Copus is in the driver's seat and it's bigger than Ben Hur. An amazing script. Don't forget to tune in this coming SUNDAY NIGHT for the latest episode of The 4400: "THE HOMEFRONT" Sunday USA NETWORK 9pm/8c

This week I was (kindly) flown to LA for the premiere screening of Nightmares and Dreamscapes, the adapted Stephen King anthology. TNT had a fabulous unveiling party after the screening of "Battleground" and "The End of the Whole Mess". Both show's were amazing. They were filmed in Australia and so a lot of my friends have roles in them, which was a bonus treat. It was great to catch up with the producers of the series: I'd walk to Fiji and back over hot coals to work with Jeff Hayes and JJ and Bill Haber! They are the best. The Stephen King show I am in is "Umney's Last Case" and it premieres this Wednesday night on TNT, so please have a look. I saw it yesterday for the first time and think it's AWESOME. Bill Macy, who stars in it, really has to be one of the greatest actors of our time. He is such an amazing story teller, so generous with the rest of the cast and brings such heart to the piece... Rob Bowman directed it (we'll keep him thankyou very much!) and April Smith adapted it. Where's the spinoff series!!?? Well, anyway, I hope so much you enjoy the show.

Unfortunately, the online RAFFLE I wanted to hold for Richard "Marco" Kahan's theater fundraiser is... wait for it... ILLEGAL!! Chiko, my website-man looked into it for us and we found ourselves unable to move forward. So instead, we are auctioning off the painting on EBAY. A hell of a shame, if you ask me: I love the idea of a raffle, where anyone has a chance. But them's the breaks and EBAY is the direction we are now going in. So please, tell all your mates about the auction and hopefully we'll raise some money for Richard. Let's suppport independent theater.

Tonight is "GRADUATION DAY" on THE 4400.... Don't miss it! It's a great episode and, yes, 'someone dies'- as they've been saying in the promo's!

At the moment, we're being directed by the gorgeous Scott Peters again and we're blessed to have Brennan Elliott join our cast. For those who might not know him- he played Todd Beamer in FLIGHT 93, the hugely acclaimed and recently emmy nominated telemovie. As well as being an immense talent, Brennan is a hoot and a half. So we are sitting pretty. None of us can believe the way this season has flown by! We are already shooting the second to last episode! Pretty soon, we'll all be out of work again...

All except Richard:

Yes folks.... Richard Kahan, who plays 'MARCO' in THE 4400 is mounting a play in October. A production of "This Is Our Youth" by Kenneth Lonergan, which premiered in New York, starring Mark Ruffalo. Since it's premiere, it has been put up all over the world, including several runs in London, and has starred many well known actors, including Matt Damon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Casey Affleck, and Anna Paquin to name a few.  The play, set in early 1980's Regan-era New York City, centers around three young kids, fresh out of high school, trying to find their place in the world.
Richard has been having fundraiser's in order to make this independent production possible. To help him along, I've painted a special painting for him to raffle off... It's #85 on my 'painting' page and it's called "first trip to the theatre".
I'll be putting up a special page + link in the next couple of days so that ANYONE ANYWHERE can be in the draw. 1 ticket for $10 or 3 tickets for $20 (US Dollars)

So be there or be square!!! Lets do our best to support independent theatre, and our very dear "MARCO"!!

Stay tuned for details of our findraising raffle!!

Tonight, we have the second part of The 4400: "GONE" (USA Network 9pm/8c)
This one is really special to me for a couple of reasons: Firstly, we were directed by Scott Peters. For those of you who don't know, he is the creator of "THE 4400". He is always up here in Vancouver with us- always on set when we are working with other directors and he is an amazing presence: calming, hilarious, sure and full of passion for the family we have become.
Secondly, I get to work loads within the MAIA/ DIANA storyline, which is always really rewarding to explore. That said, I felt like I'd had my guts ripped out by the time we finished shooting GONE Part's 1 and 2. Just the mere thought of losing a child! It's such a deeply terrifying thing to contemplate.... thank goodness we actors have the good fortune to leave these stories in the land of makebelieve. Some people are not so fortunate.

We have 3 weeks shooting left and things are really heating up, script wise. It's fabulous having Billy Campbell back- he is a hoot - so full of stories and mischief.

The Aussie's went down to ITALY in such an upset, I couldn't believe! Even Tobias (Tub-Tub) our focus puller and mad Italy-supporter was disappointed in the way his team won. Quel horreur! Ah well, our boys have taken it in their collective stride.... and what a team they are, the Socceroo's, huh?! They made Australia so proud. OIY! OIY! OIY! It is wonderful to see the sport finally recognised so widely in our country.

The jazz festival is on here in Vancouver and I can hear the music from where I am sitting. Best I head out into the glorious sunshine and drink in the remains of the day.

Meanwhile, back at The 4400 ranch... it's that time again folks... Sunday in North America, and we know what that means... Yes- another episode of The 4400: GONE, part 1. USA NETWORK 9pm/8c. It's a terrifying, heartbreaking story and we get to see Conchita really show us her acting chops. She's an amazing actress and we found her first!!
The director is Morgan Beggs- who is usually our "1st Assistant Director" and has worked with us in that capacity since the first season.
It was a great advantage- he knows the cast + crew so well and is a huge believer in our show. Perfect.

That's it for now... my hands can barely type- my trainer Danielle has been whupping my proverbial... That's one thing I didn't envisage when I took on the job of Diana Skouris- having to hit that gym so often! But if I don't, I can't actually do what's required of me at work...
You'd be surprised how difficult it is to hold a gun up at shoulder height for the 5-6 hours it takes to shoot some of these scenes!!

Hope so much you all enjoy the show and do stop by www.the4400.com as there's loads of good stuff to do/see there including a full schedule and previews of forthcoming episodes.

We've had a mad week at The 4400-  what with doing press and night shoots and reading new scripts and my dog eating my homework (he literally ate through the 'teaser' and 'part one' of the latest episode... not to mention reducing my palm pilot to shredded plastic.... oy veh! a teething puppy he is!)
Tonight's episode of The 4400 is called "Being Tom Baldwin" and was directed by the great and hilarous Colin Bucksey. It is on USA Network at 9pm/8c... It's a don't miss situation for anyone who get's USA cable!

Also....  you can look out for an interview I did at:
http://www.mediablvd.com/magazine/Magazine-Home/MBMag_20060420191.html
(Have no idea where they got those photo's... I think it was at Comicon last year...)

Australia won their round in the World Cup Soccer!!! 3-1 against Japan!!! Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oy! Oy! Oy! What a match, ay?

And our wonderful 4400 had a knockout season premiere! My agent Chris sent me this, for anyone into numbers + ratings....

The season three premiere of THE 4400 on Sunday was the top scripted series telecast of the week in basic cable prime among households (3.3 rating), P18-49 (2.4 million), P25-54 (2.4 million) and total viewers (4.2 million). THE 4400 delivered more P18-49 and P25-54 viewers than CBS (Tony Awards) in the 9p hour, and topped CBS again among P18-49 in the 10p hour. As compared to the full season 2 average, the season 3 premiere of THE 4400 was up +9% among households, up +15% among P18-49, up +10% among P25-54 and up +7% among total viewers. Versus its prior four week time period average, the return of THE 4400 delivered +74% higher among households, +115% higher among P18-49, +110% higher among P25-54 and +88% higher among total viewers. USA surpassed its ratings for the same week last year (6/06-6/12/05) by double-digits in all key demos, up 22% in households, up 50% in P18-34, up 37% in P18-49, up 31% in P25-54, and up 23% among total viewers

We've had wonderful feedback... so much excitement! And I can only promise you- THE SEASON GETS BETTER AND BETTER- MANY SUPRISES AROUND THE CORNER- AND SOME WONDERFUL STUFF FOR MYSELF AND CONCHITA TO GET OUR TEETH INTO...

Just had an amazing weekend in LA. 'Venice' magazine photographed me with some of the paintings I've done over the last 6 months. I think the issue will be on stands for JULY AUGUST. Also just did an 'at home' photo shoot for OK! Magazine. Kiersten Warren (my actress friend from Ya Ya Sisterhood- and now seen on Desperate Housewives) took me shopping to buy some 'accents' for the house.... She has TASTE that one, I tell you! If she wasn't such a great actress and so busy over at Wisteria Lane, I'd have her on the payroll! Am so lucky to have such wonderful people looking after me. John, my makeup artist, not only managed to make me look as gorgeous as i'm ever going to look any time soon... but he made and enormous pot of gumbo for us all to eat! Brought it with him! I couldn't believe my eyes... nor my tastebuds- it was the best I've had and this is my favourite dish - I know a good gumbo when I meet one! Penny Lovell (stylist) put me in some amazing frocks, Frankie glammed up my hair and it was all systems go. Anyone would think I swan around the house in Moschino dresses and Ferragamo shoes all the time... I WISH!

Anyway... hope you all have a great week! Stay tuned this weekend for season 3 episode "Being Tom Baldwin".... Sunday, 9pm/8c on USA!!

The 3rd season of The 4400 premiere's TONIGHT across America! 9pm/8c on USA. Be there or be square!!

For anyone interested on getting into the vibe: www.the4400.com
Also there's an amazing article on us in the LA WEEKLY:
www.laweekly.com/film+tv/screen/things-that-make-you-go-whoa/ 13697/

The third season of The 4400 premieres this weekend on USA Cable. We are all just jumping out of our skins! Esp Conchita and I. We sat together and watched it with Scotty and the gang (as a special right of the cast!) and it was incredible! Vince Misiano, our director, has done an amazing job and I can’t wait for you all to see it! Be sure to check out www.the4400.com for a schedule of this season’s show!!

Chiko has done a wonderful job and added some more photo’s (a lot more!) to the site. Stills from theatre shows and films I’ve done over the years. Also some photo’s of my days prior to acting! And here’s a little blurb about that:

I used to sing in a rockband (when I was in my teens) and modelled (!) in my spare time- to earn enough money to get taxi’s to and from the gigs. I was a little too short to do cat-walk and so mainly did television commercials. It was at this time that I met Liz Mullinar- a fantastic casting agent in Sydney- who used to cast a lot of the TV commercials. She also cast many big films and miniseries in our country (“Dead Calm”, “My Brilliant Career”, “Shine”) It was after one of these casting sessions that she encouraged me to try out for our country’s top-notch acting school: NIDA. She said I was very expressive and thought I had what it took to get in there. So off I went to audition -one of a couple of thousand other hopefuls. My father helped me deciper the mandatory Shakespeare monologue, (which might has well have been written in French!) and I miraculously got accepted. I spent the next 3 years of my life there, learning all about Shakespeare and the theatre and wonderful playwrights I’d never heard of- like Chekov and Brecht. We had voice lessons and learned all about accents with Betty Williams, and had an amazing movement course- where Keith Bain introduced us to the wonderful world of physical expression. I was in the same year as another Australian actress called Miranda Otto. (“What Lies Beneath”, “The Lord of the Rings”, “War of the Worlds”). We used to do scenework together. It was an incredible time and an awesome learning curve!

Anyway…. That’s enough for now. I have to go and learn lines for THE 4400! Scotty (Scot Peters) is directing us at the moment in an episode called The Ballad of Kevin and Tess. YES! I get to play with Dr. Kevin Burkhoff (the wonderful Jeffrey Combs)

Cheers and be sure to visit again!

With love
JM

p.s. I will be adding paintings to the site as I paint them. # 83 went up last night!

Again, if anyone has any information regarding any misses credits, I would really appreciate if you could leave a message for me at: www.myspace.com/jacquimckenzie

Some of the photographic images I have scanned from my mother's scrap books. She has been meticulous in her keeping of mags, newspapers and playbills - thank goodness... as I've been completely slack!! Not all of the pages had their 'credits' in tact, however, so I've been unable to include all of the photographers names.... I am ever so grateful to have the images of their hard work and intend to rectify this situation asap: I'll find out just who took what pictures and I let you know at the earliest opportunity.

If anyone has any information regarding credits, I would really appreciate if you could leave a message for me at: www.myspace.com/jacquimckenzie

A little blurb about what's going on for me at the moment and about the website:

I am currently acting on "The 4400" - a television series shooting in Vancouver, British Columbia. We are shooting our third season and it is a dream role in a dream production. I paint and make music when I am not filming. At the moment there are more paintings on this website than photo's and music, so I'll talk a little about that....

I began painting in Oct 2003, on the set of Paul Cox's film "The Human Touch". We were all on location in a tiny town in France, shooting in an old barn that was dressed up to look like a villa. One of the rooms of the 'villa' was scripted to be an artist's studio. To that end, Paul asked the crew + cast to help out and paint something/anything to hang on the walls and thereby decorate the set. So Aaron Blabey (a great artist/actor from Australia), myself, the production manager, script supervisor and others contributed. I'd never painted before- I had thought, in fact, that there was a great gap between what I saw (gorgeous complex faces) and what I would draw on a page (stick figures!). I also had no real interest in 'art'. Don't get me wrong, being an actress I LOVED the pre-Raphaelites like the best of us and imagined that it was me floating down the river as Ophelia or me sitting in the canoe as Lady Porphyria!.... But I guess I'd never understood art. I had never 'found' art as a means of expression and art had never 'found' me. Painting in that tiny attic room in france, using makeup sponges and some old tubes of paint that belonged to Paul, I became obsessed... I was amazed at the process: deeply meditative and something for which I had to rely completely on instinct. I was totally hooked and to this day I travel everywhere with a portable easel and paints.

I heard a wonderful interview with the great Joni Mitchell in which she described writing music and painting as a kind of 'crop rotation'. I loved hearing that. Whether it's acting or music/singing or painting.... it really is just telling stories. And I hope you enjoy them.

Wow.

Launching this site feels kind of like having a HUGE dinner party: It's 5pm with guests due to arrive at 7, I'm still in my cleaning clothes, I've only just finished polishing the floorboards and I HAVE GOT TO GET THE CHOOK IN THE OVEN!!! ie. it's exciting and a little nerve wracking all at once!

Well.... here goes! I hope you have fun wandering around the site!

Thanks so much for stopping by and having a beak!

Jacqui