Even though Kari immediately found work in the Big Apple, the Manhattan lifestyle began to take its toll. "After a while, New York started driving me crazy," she laughs. "You'd have to wait in line for everything -- the phone, a taxi, a pizza. I just couldn't wait to get out on the West Coast and drive my jeep along the beach." By 1987, the transcontinental lure had won out and Kari made the move -- the giant hop, actually -- to Los Angeles. Once she got there, it didn't take long for the acting jobs to start streaming in regularly -- a soda commercial here, a skit on The Tonight Show there. Still, the down-home girl inside Kari became restless once again. "I knew there had to be something else out there for me -- something even more important."

Finally, the Colorado-born, Florida-tanned, L.A.-dwelling lady has found that something important: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Now she has joined hands with the "tons of determined, committed people" across the country protecting animal rights. "It's the perfect combination of passions," she says, the determination noticeably rising in her voice. "Every dime I make from acting gets donated to animal projects. I'm even working on a few children's books on the subject. After all, kids are the future protectors of animals."

Add to this current mission her new digs in West Hollywood ("It's not that ranch in Colorado, but it'll do") and some promising acting gigs on the horizon ("The big role hasn't come yet, but I'm always at that final call back"), and you can be sure that Kari Kennell has arrived. Naturally.