Venezia: Career move pays off for Realtor-turned-actress

Actress Danielle Kennedy is talented, gutsy and fearless — traits she brings to her character, Ambassador Noonan — the U.S. ambassador to Colombia — in the new hit Netflix series, “Narcos,” about drug kingpin Pablo Escobar.

Though she doesn’t have a large role in the 10-part series, Ambassador Noonan is important to the storyline, as her pivotal decisions bring the U.S. into the war on drugs in Colombia.

Kennedy’s landed a coveted role in one of the most-talked-about shows of the new television season. And I couldn’t be more proud of my pal of over 20 years. She was a bridesmaid at my wedding in 1993 and her husband, Mike Craig, was best man.

Kennedy is my O.C. connection to “Narcos.”

With Craig and eight kids, Kennedy lived in Mission Viejo, San Clemente and Laguna Beach from 1967 to 1995.

By the early 1990s, she was a top-selling Realtor here, motivational speaker, sales trainer and author of bestselling books on real estate.

How’d she get from here to “Narcos”?

Leaving O.C. in 1995 for Sun Valley, Idaho, she became involved in a theater company, Company of Fools, and started acting. The Liberty Theater, where Company of Fools performs, is owned by Bruce Willis and Demi Moore.

Willis, impressed with Kennedy’s talent, gave her a small part in his Showtime production of “True West” in 2002, which enabled her to get a Screen Actors Guild, or SAG, card.

Leaving Sun Valley in 2005 for Newport Beach, Kennedy planned on pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles. I thought she was crazy since Hollywood is so youth-oriented, especially when it comes to actresses, and she’d passed 25 more than a few exits ago.

Nothing deters Kennedy.

She drove back and forth to L.A. for daily auditions, and we’d joke about how much of her life she was spending on the 405 Freeway!

As she landed roles with L.A.’s Odyssey Theatre company and in TV series like “The Mentalist”, “American Horror,” and “Parks and Recreation,” her resume kept growing.

I knew she was serious about this acting thing and wasn’t surprised she left Newport for L.A. in 2010.

When she called last year with news she’d gotten the part as Noonan, I was thrilled until I heard she’d be spending the next six months in Bogota, Colombia’s capital.

Living away from her husband, kids, grandchildren and friends for half a year?

I wondered if she’d really thought this thing through.

Then I remembered why we’ve been friends for so long. She continues to remind me life is about remaining fearless and adventurous.

So, with her family and friends rooting for her, off she went to Bogota. And it turned out she was able to make several trips home when she wasn’t required on the set.

On Facebook, Kennedy posted photos of the cast and the great city view from her apartment. It was evident she was having the time of her life.

“There was such a loving fun on set,” she said. “I didn’t have a nervous day. It was one of the best experiences of my life.”

And that’s crazy, because if you watch “Narcos,” loving isn’t exactly a word that comes to mind.

“Narcos” is gritty and captivating television.

From the first episode I was hooked, as the story unfolded about how cocaine arrived in Miami from Colombia, and Escobar’s part in all of it.

Told in part through narration by DEA agent Steve Murphy, who is played by Boyd Holbrook, I was glued to my seat as episode after episode of Escobar’s violent path played out.

Warning: “Narcos” is not for the faint of heart as there are some pretty gruesome scenes. But they really drive home how horrific this period was in Colombia’s history.

The show premiered Aug. 28 on Netflix. I watched eight episodes that day, two the next, and then I called Kennedy. She hadn’t seen it yet.

“I’m waiting for Mike and the kids to watch it and tell me how I did,” she joked.

Kennedy hadn’t watched the dailies either.

I assured her that she — and the show — was amazing.

“Narcos” is getting lots of buzz.

“Howard Stern talked about binge watching it on his show,” she told me.

Peter Frampton tweeted about it.

When Kennedy wrote him back saying she was a fan, Frampton started following her on Twitter!

Needless to say Kennedy is thrilled.

Last week, “Narcos” got picked up for a second season. Kennedy doesn’t know if her character will return, but isn’t thinking about that right now.

She’ll be in Sun Valley Sept 30 to Oct. 17th to star in the Company of Fools production of “August: Osage County,” and she’s also busy with playwright Justin Tanner’s web series, “Ave. 43.”

To hear more with Kennedy download my recent podcast livingoutloud.podomatic.com

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