Soap Opera Digest: So, first with the big news: You’re a new mother?
Kimberley Simms: Yeah! Well, it’s kind of always been my dream to be a mother. Even when I was acting and I’d be in acting class, most actors wanted to win an Academy Award or something; I just always wanted to have a baby. From a very, very young age and all through my acting career, it was always such a priority. It was a really long, often very dark road. I went through a bout of infertility for years. Digest: Can you tell me about your daughter, Tuesday?
Simms: My daughter is just an extraordinary person. I don’t even know the words really! It’s overwhelming! We adopted her from China in May. We met her on Mother’s Day. She shares the same birth date as I do, so there are all these “meant to be” kind of things. We met her when she was 9 1/2 months old, so she’s been with us since then. I could go on and on! It’s an amazing joy. To be in your 40s and to be a first-time mom, I don’t take anything for granted. There’s no sacrifice I feel is too great for me. I often say that I had a beautiful, big life when I was an actress. I would have the opportunity to travel a lot and I had this great life experience — it’s almost like chapter two. She’s filled with joy and wonder and she’s beautiful. And also I think it’s because of her humble beginnings. She was in an orphanage and it’s like the world’s opened up to her. She appreciates every moment of every day. It’s just the biggest blessing to us. Digest: How is motherhood treating you?
Simms: I’m excited, and in some ways I think it’s great being an older mom, except for the energy level []! Sometimes, you meet younger moms who feel they still have so much to accomplish or achieve … I don’t have any of that.
Digest: And you’re currently raising money for the orphanage she came from?
Simms: What we’re hoping to do is start an infant nursery program. There’s already a big organization over in China that goes in and trains the nannies and the caretakers to do more nurturing with the babies, to get them out of the crib, to have floor time. But they were pretty understaffed, so we’re actually doing a fund-raiser for ways of learning to hire more staff and then to actually train staff that’s there. We’ve actually raised almost enough to get it started for the first year, but we need to keep it going, so I’ve actually talked to Michael O’Leary [Rick, GL] and Tina Sloan [Lillian, GL] — Tina Sloan was incredibly generous, beyond my expectation. And I’ve talked to Michael and Beth Ehlers [Harley, GL] about maybe doing some kind of fund-raiser benefit. For me, it’s my call to action. This has sort of become like a calling to me. Something that I can give on a greater level. [My daughter] will know that people gave back to those babies who are still there, in sort of her honor. It’s such a beautiful thing.Digest: You’re living in Los Angeles. What else have you been up to?
Simms: We came back to L.A. and we were actually living in Laguna Beach, and my husband opened a very successful restaurant. It’s a beautiful place in Santa Monica. It’s called Wilshire Restaurant. It’s just great. It’s beautiful. My husband is really inspired by the farmers market and organic — it’s not typical L.A. It’s like elegant Hollywood who’s drawn to come. Denzel Washington says it’s his favorite restaurant. He came out with his wife for their anniversary.Digest: Are you working at the restaurant?
Simms: I’m actually doing spa consulting. That’s kind of the industry I transitioned into after acting. Digest: If GUIDING LIGHT came calling, would you return?
Simms: Oh, yeah! It would be fun.Digest: Did you know the show just turned 70 years old?
Simms: Wow. There’s something to be said about longevity in a fickle industry. I know when I was on the show, there was always a pride of being one of the longest-running shows still in existence. They should be very proud.
