Abstract: An actively cooled recessed lighting trim apparatus is disclosed. The trim apparatus comprises a trim housing that fits within a standard recessed lighting fixture housing to define a space between the lighting fixture housing and the trim housing; a trim ring or face that has a vent for admitting a cooling fluid to the space; and a means for actively cooling the space or the trim housing. The space forms a low-pressure plenum through which a cooling fluid is circulated. A thermal protector may be secured within the trim housing to turn off a lamp in the housing if the internal temperature of the space, or of the trim housing, becomes too hot. The cooling means, which may be a fan, actively draws a cooling fluid in through the vent of the trim ring, over the trim housing and the illuminated lamp, and exhausts warmed cooling fluid out though gaps between the lamp and the trim ring. Accordingly, high-wattage lamps may be used safely in recessed lighting installations.