A Bermudian psychologist working in Los Angeles is in purgatory, and she's not at all concerned.

Jennifer Lee Robinson works in California as a behavioural therapist by day, and an aspiring actress in her spare time.

She recently landed the role of Keiko in the independent film, 'Project Purgatory'. She performs under the name "Calais Robinson".

The science fiction film, directed by Kantz of 'Wasteland' is about a designer virus that wipes out mankind leaving a small band of humans. The dead come back as flesh-eating zombies.

It premiered this week.

Aside from movies, Mrs. Robinson would also like to have her own talk show.

She recently took part in 'Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star'. People from all over the United States submitted short video pieces about themselves and why they should be the next Oprah.

The shorts were then put on the Internet and the general public voted.

Mrs. Robinson received over 1,000 votes. Among the finalists was a young man with cerebral palsy who received over nine million votes.

Mrs. Robinson's idea for a talk show is called 'Step Into The Audience'.

"That means that the show would come from the audience's perspective," she said. "We talk a lot about the celebrities and what they go through, and people that are in positions of power, but I feel that all of us have a story."

She said on her show, topics would range from traditional talk show fodder such as self-esteem issues, to such topics such as the culture of eating and extraterrestrial encounters.

"We all have something to talk about," she said.

She hopes to make a talk show proposal to a new television channel called Better Black TV which is currently setting itself up as a rival for Black Entertainment Television (BET).

Mrs. Robinson is also pursuing a PhD in psychology.

"All my life I have been interested in talking to people about their lives, about the things they have overcome," she said. "I am interested in shedding light on issues that other people aren't quite aware of.

"Sometimes people think they are the only ones going through stuff. I enjoy letting people know about their options."

She said one boost to her acting career has been finding an agent.

"In Los Angeles, to get into television or films, you have to be represented," she said. "I am represented by Vincent Cirrincione who also represents Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry and The Karate Kid actress Taraji P. Henson."

She is also represented by the Daniel Hoff Agency.

"When you don't have an agent you go to what is called an 'open call'," Mrs. Robinson explained.

On an open call you are often up against hundreds of other aspiring actors, and you can wait for hours to be seen.

"When you get with an agency, you audition by request," she said. "Today I went in for an audition. My appointment was for 11.45 a.m. I was called in as soon as I walked in the door. There was no one else there waiting.

"I shot the audition and I left. It was really quick. That is the advantage."

Now she goes to several television and movie auditions a week.

"You get a notice that there will be an audition the day before," she said. "You get the notice around 4 or 5 p.m. so you don't have much time to know ahead of time."

She has also done some modelling work on the runway and for catalogues. "I just shot the new Delta Faucet hand commercial," she said. "I don't get nervous anymore," she said. "Now, doing it is like the back of my hand. I just go in and do the best job I can."

She said right now she is "on hold" for several different roles, including a commercial for Verizon Wireless. "That means that they like you," she said. "They like what you have. They have you and someone else in mind, or you and another family."

Mrs. Robinson said it often all boils down to a particular look that the company wants.

Her son, Dilairo, has also been bitten by the acting bug. He was in the 2006 movie, 'Akeelah & The Bee'.

The Robinsons have lived in Los Angeles for about seven years. "Dilairo just graduated from high school this June," said Mrs. Robinson. "He left acting for a minute because he wanted to focus on basketball.

"Now that he is done with high school he is going to get back into auditions. If you land a national commercial, that could pay for college."

For more information about Mrs. Robinson visit www.jenniferleerobinson.com.

For information on 'Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star visit www.oprah.com/own.