A Letter From Kim Krejus | 16th June, 2025
I am nearly 5 months into my 1 year sabbatical which began in Nepal at the end of January, where I was fortunate to do a 5 week solo retreat at Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu Valley. To be in Nepal is to be surrounded by a kindness and good heartedness that seems to be natural to the Nepalese and Tibetan people. To take a walk, as I would do every day into the forest to contemplate a topic that I was meditating on, was to be met by the smiling faces of children, young ordained nuns and monks and the twinkling eyes of the elderly. It was impossible to feel anything other than gratitude for my life.
I arrived in France in mid-March and spent 4 days in Paris, catching up with Sophie Cellier (a French woman and 16th Street graduate). Sophie moved back to France a few years ago and is a gifted actress/ writer/producer and gorgeous human being.
I stayed in the historic Marais district and those precious days were spent wandering around the streets of Paris, with nowhere in particular to be. I then caught the train to Toulouse with my lovely nephew, Patrick, who flew from London to help his elderly aunt (me!) with her many bags. A highlight of our time together in Paris was at Sacre Coeur in Montmartre where I had been many years before with my beloved sister and Patrick’s mother, Lindis, who has since passed away. Patrick and I stood on the same spot in the Church where my sister and I stood 44 years before, when I opened my heart to her and shared a burden I was carrying. It was a bitter sweet moment with Patrick and a reminder of the impermanence of life.
I have been at Nalanda Monastery now for 3 months and feel very settled into monastic life and wonderfully at home in France. Every day, I count my blessings at the good fortune and the good people that have enabled me to have this experience.
Each month we have a short break, to study and reflect. Last week I went to Lourdes and visited the Sanctuary where the Virgin Mary appeared to the 14 year old French girl, Bernadette Soubirous in the late 1800’s. As a Catholic growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, Saint Bernadette was a heroine to many young girls and her name was one of the most popular for girls to take when they made their confirmation.
My experience at Lourdes was profound and hard to put into words. It deepened my connection to faith, our human family and will inform my future. If the lovely Australian actresses, who I met by chance in the elevator of my hotel happen to read this post, it was a joy meeting you all and I wish I got to hear more of your story Rachel.
The monastery is soon be on summer break, so I am spending July in London. Monique Fisher (actor/producer and 16th Street graduate) has just organised tickets for us to see Imelda Staunton in George Bernard Shaw’s, Mrs Warren’s Profession. I remember seeing Noni Hazlehurst and Mandy McElhinney do beautiful and detailed work on this wonderful play in our Melbourne Larry Moss Masterclasses several years ago).
My dear friend and 16th Street Foundation colleague, Leora Givoni, (who has a corporate background) asked me to share 3 takeouts (I think that is the expression) about the experience I have had thus far. So here goes:
As a thinker, Joseph Campbell made an impression on me, when he said: “Follow your bliss”. I am definitely following mine, so that is number 1.
Number 2: Use every opportunity to develop a good heart, including difficult situations and people.
Number 3: Do not waste your life. It is precious beyond measure and is gone in an instant.
I watch how in my absence 16th Street is growing. I not only believe that it is in the safest of hands but in the most creative, with the studio’s new Associate Artistic Director, Harry Haynes; Head of Acting, Iain Sinclair; our gifted teaching faculty, the 16th Street Foundation board (Natalie Elliot, Leora Givoni, Amy Poynton and Lisa Marshall) and the wonderful 16th Street administrative and marketing team. Thank you Elyse, Nicola, Bianca and Declan.
To all of you who are a part of the 16th Street and wider community, I wish you much happiness and love and look forward to seeing you on the other side!
Kim
