This role would test anyone

As she motored past the Grove shopping center, strange human noises came from her purse signaling a call from her boyfriend, Maury Sterling -- one of the town's established actors ("Smokin' Aces") who is also looking for work. "He's leaving an audition," Highsmith said. He eventually landed a part on Joss Whedon's upcoming “Dollhouse." The phone rang again with her own voice saying, "Ooh, I have a message!"

Highsmith picked up the head shots from Jeff Ikemihya's photo imaging shop ("I love him," she said) and headed for North Hollywood, where her agent, Patty Vittoritto, and Vittoritto's husband, Ron, ("I love them") work out of their home.

Vittoritto has been in the business only three years, but Highsmith trusts her to know where the actress fits into the industry. The agent understands that there are certain words her churchgoing client won't say on-screen, and that she'd rather keep a healthy figure as a role model for younger girls -- all of which limit what will stick when Highsmith is throwing everything she has onto the wall.

Last year was her best, with two of three pilot auditions making it to the studio level, where someone else was ultimately chosen for the role. Before that, she had landed small parts in high-profile shows including "Boston Legal" and "CSI: New York," and acted in two low-budget films, "Fractalus" and "Breathing Room," which are still in production. She also worked as associate producer on a third movie.

She's heard for months that an actors strike is likely. Some shows are already planning to shut down in July as a precautionary measure, she said. She follows the contract talks through union e-mails and knows the issues, such as residuals, are similar to those confronted by the writers. She sympathized with the writers, but her work search took precedent and she did not walk the picket lines.

If the actors strike, her work as a waitress will help her survive, said Highsmith, who's been on her own financially since graduating from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Even during the three-month writers' strike, the restaurant didn't slow down, she said. Last year, she proudly reported, she earned $34,000 at the restaurant and $17,000 acting -- $4,000 more than required to obtain SAG health insurance, which put her ahead of most SAG members. With the next residual check, she'll be out of debt.