She's learning more about her famous families

DANVILLE -- Kiera Chaplin's family history is an impressive one, boasting two iconic names in the worlds of literature and film.

Chaplin, 23, is the granddaughter of legendary comedian Charlie Chaplin, and the great-granddaughter of famed playwright Eugene O'Neill.

Kiera's grandmother, Oona O'Neill -- the playwright's only daughter -- married Chaplin when she was 18. Chaplin was 54, a fact that outraged the playwright and prompted him to disown his daughter.

Kiera is now looking to bridge the family divide by learning about her great-grandfather. This past week, she came to Danville to visit Tao House -- O'Neill's reclusive home in the hills above town, where he wrote "The Iceman Cometh" and "Long Day's Journey Into Night."

"The plays are very dark and very real," Chaplin said of O'Neill's work. "It's amazing how he can focus on one place and pack in so much emotion. In 'Long Day's Journey Into Night' he boils his entire life down into one day. It's an amazing thing to do."

On Friday night, she attended the premiere of the PBS-produced documentary "Eugene O'Neill" in San Ramon.

Chaplin -- born in Northern Ireland, raised in Switzerland and now living in Los Angeles -- is working to establish her own reputation in the entertainment industry.

She co-starred in the soon-to-be released movie "Japan" with Peter Fonda, and is co-founder of a movie-production company, Limelight Films.

In addition to acting and modeling, she has worked behind the camera, directing a television commercial for a French clothing line -- which aired onMTV throughout Europe and Asia -- and has produced.

"I'm a little more of a control freak," she said. "When I'm acting, I sometimes want to know why we can't do things my way -- so directing is good for me."

Her production company currently is on the lookout for worthwhile movie projects.

"We want our movies to be perfect," she said. "You don't want your first efforts to be bad, otherwise you establish a bad reputation."

Boasting the last name of the legendary silent-movie comedian has both its up and down sides, she said, adding she sometimes feels the pressure of having to live up to the example set by her famous grandfather.

"Having the name Chaplin certainly opens doors for you," she said. "But you can see how it changes the way people treat you. There are times when people -- who would otherwise ignore you -- pretend to be your friend because of your name."

Chaplin said she tries not to let it get to her.

"When I decide to do something, I just try to do it as well as possible," she said. "I'm my own person."

Staff writer Simon Read can be reached at (925) 416-4849, or sread@trivalleyherald.com.

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