Simply put, THE RIVER is a disturbing and mysterious tale of love. The show debuted in the West End and then played Broadway (and starred Hugh Jackman). The Canadian premiere, which will debut at The Coal Mine Theatre, will showcase the talents of Dani Kind, playing “the other woman.”

Dani Kind is a Toronto based actress, producer and teacher. We were excited to hear from her, and SDTC is apparently one of her favourite online outlets! (We’re blushing right now.) She also has a fish tattoo on her back, so she is instantly awesome in our books.

We spoke to Dani to find out about her love for Toronto and how being a mom has impacted her life and career.

What would the receipts in your wallet indicate?

Lots and lots of coffee.

What does your breakfast look like?

Water, coffee, smoothie, oatmeal, and lots of diapers (I don’t eat those though).

What are three goals for yourself that are on your mind at this very moment?

1) Breathing fun into each day is a goal with my kids husband and work. 2) Finding an hour or two for myself and my work. 3) Getting good food into my body!

What was the last memorable event you attended?

The birth of my second son was pretty badass. It was in April. It was magical.

What makes you happy?

The feeling of collaborating on great work. Watching actors work in class. The smell of my kids when they sleep.

What makes you cringe?

The sound of people eating with their mouths open. It flips my switch and ignites some sort of demon.

What have you recently learned about yourself?

That motherhood looks totally different on every woman and in the industry. That bringing my “balls” to both motherhood and my work is possible and in fact makes both more amazing.

What do you do often?

Swear like a trucker. And sailor.

What new thing have you recently begun / or are planning to incorporate into your routine/lifestyle?

I work with an incredible nutritionist named Jenn Mansell who just developed a new routine for me. She’s incredibly inspiring and supportive and has helped me pre-pregnancy and post.

What landscape really does it for you?

My in-laws live an hour north of Montreal in Sainte-Mélanie. It’s remote and on a lake and the most beautiful place in every season. The country makes me feel like a kid. I love it.

Where do you like to hang out in Toronto?

I love our city’s neighbourhoods. Little India at night when it’s crawling with families, Kensington’s bustle on the weekends, the Christmas Market in the Distillery. I have a deep love for Toronto.

What neighbourhood places/spaces do you hold dear to your heart?

We hang in little India a lot because our son’s daycare is there and we love Indian food. Our business is in Leslieville, so it’s our second home. It’s called Anchored Social Club – it’s a personal training facility. I like to bring our kids there as much as possible to watch their dad work. We’ve gotten to know a lot of the surrounding businesses and they are always so kind to our boys. It’s an amazing community.

Give us your best pitch for THE RIVER.

THE RIVER, starring Dominic West (The Wire), premiered at The Donmar and then went to Broadway where Hugh Jackman played the lead. The Coal Mine’s production will take place in a storefront at 982 Danforth that they have taken over for this show only. Pop-up theatre at its best – intimate and engaging. www.brownpapertickets.com/THERIVER