Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
“Sometimes I’ll write a TV or feature project for a specific location, just to have an excuse to go stay there,” said “Nightbitch” actress Adrienne Rose White. “I co-wrote a feature script set in Salton Sea after I saw these gorgeous photos of this lake in a desolate desert. And now that you’ve asked, I think I’ll set my next feature in Fiji.”
After Wonho completed his 21-month mandatory military duty in South Korea this past September, the pop star had intended on taking some time off before making his “comeback” – K-pop parlance for releasing new music. But when the opportunity came up to be a part of the iHeart Jingle Ball lineup – which includes a Dec. 9 concert at the Allstate Arena outside of Chicago – he got to work, quickly.
“The percentage of my personal life has decreased considerably,” said Shoji Morimoto, author of the international bestseller “Rental Person Who Does Nothing”. “This is because I need to have more time outside for my work, rather than spending quiet time at home with just my family. However, it does not mean that I prefer either time more than the other. Both ways in which I spend time are equally important.”
“Entertainment Tonight” co-host Nischelle Turner said, “I don’t consider anywhere I go for work a vacation. When I’m off, I’m off!”
Born and raised in England, Della Saba is one of the stars of the Apple TV+ series “Physical.” She’s also a voice actress who can be heard in Jack Black’s Netflix animated series “Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight.”
“You can hear these influences a lot in my music wrapped up in a little pop bow, of course,” said musician Kentö. “I grew up listening to singers from all over the world like Freddie Mercury, Ivete Sangalo, Ayumi Hamasaki and Sylvie Vartan. (They’re) very different artists, but all iconic voices that I tried to emulate growing up and, in my own way, shaped the style and tone of my voice today.”
“I can speak Spanish enough to get around,” said Rudi Gutierrez, singer and “The Bachelor: Listen To Your Heart” alum. “I was pretty fluent in a matter of two weeks when I was in Spain. Picked up a little Japanese while I was in Japan, too.”
Ellington Ratliff says traveling for leisure is something he’d like to do more of in the future. “I honestly don’t vacation as much as I like, but while I’m on tour I get to see some sights in whichever city I’m in,” says Ratliff, 25. “Some of my favorite cities are Lake Como, Barcelona. I really liked Tel Aviv. Although, I’d have to say my favorite place to unwind is at my grandmother’s house in Wisconsin.”
With her first full-length collection of poetry, “A Cruelty Special to Our Species” (Ecco, $25.99), Emily Jungmin Yoon takes readers inside the world of war, colonialism and sexual slavery. Born in Busan, South Korea, and currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Chicago, Yoon’s critically-acclaimed work conveys lyrical beauty, even as it tackles brutal and political subject matter.
Singer-songwriter Charli XCX (“5 in the Morning”) is earning rave reviews as Taylor Swift’s opening act. The English star also is a headliner at W Hollywood’s Wake Up Call music festival. Born Charlotte Emma Aitchison, she spends so much of her life on the road that she has a fool-proof plan for dealing with dateline changes: “Party through the jet lag. Or, if you’re not up to that, enjoy a spa day as soon as you get there and really let your body bounce back so you can make the most out of your trip.”
“The Chi” actress Tiffany Boone recalls a childhood trip she took with her mother: “I was 8 years old and we went to Walt Disney World in Orlando. In preparation for my trip, I would watch a travel video about Disney World every single day. It was my very first time on an airplane and I was slightly nervous, but my excitement gave me courage. We had the time of our lives! To this day, it is still one of my favorite travel memories.”
“One of the things I love about dance is that it has given me the opportunity to see the world,” says Maks Chmerkovskiy, who grew up in Odessa, Ukraine, and New York. “It gave me the opportunity to see things I never could have dreamed about as a little boy.”
“Lethal Weapon” actress Chandler Kinney says that “Tokyo is one of my favorite places. My mom, my two brothers and I were there for four days. Two of our days were spent at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. We took our last day to explore the surrounding districts and towns of Tokyo.”
Cam Gigandet (“The Magnificent Seven,” “The Twilight Saga” franchise) stars alongside Donald Sutherland and Jeremy Sisto in AT&T Audience Network’s latest series, “Ice.” In the serialized crime drama, Gigandet’s character is thrown into the world of corrupt diamond trading, murder and dubious cartels. For the series, Gigandet, 34, moved his family from their Venice, California, home to Vancouver, B.C., where “Ice” is filmed.
Kelly Clark is a four-time Winter Olympian (2002 through 2014) who has won a gold medal and two bronze medals. The halfpipe specialist has said that if she stays at the top of her game, she would love to represent Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
“There’s nothing like the Olympics,” she says. “The Salt Lake City Games was such a memorable experience. For me, winning the first gold medal for the United States on U.S. soil was a big moment in my career.”
Famed Spago chef Wolfgang Puck is the latest judge on the “Top Chef: Seattle.” Puck says he’s excited to be a part of the 10th season of the Emmy and James Beard Award-winning series. “The show is a lot of fun for me and I enjoy watching what the chefs come up with each week,” says the 63-year-old author and TV personality. “When I was starting out, I knew I found cooking to be interesting. But I never imagined that people would enjoy watching chefs on television competing in the kitchen. It’s wonderful.”
I recently did a fun interview with Helio Castroneves. I asked if he was a backseat driver, and he said, “I’m OK with being in the backseat but, yes, I can be. I’m mostly concerned when people try to show off. That’s when I get a little uncomfortable. People don’t realize that with ordinary cars, you can’t go fast like you can in a racecar and still be safe.”
“There is no difference between my job and my life,” says “Top Chef Just Desserts” host Gail Simmons. “It’s one big blur and it’s all delicious. I travel and seek out great food. That’s kind of how I plan my trips, and my life.” Born in Toronto and currently residing in New York City, the 35-year-old TV personality — who also handles special projects for Food and Wine magazine — studied at the Institute of Culinary Education and worked in the kitchens of the Vong restaurants and Le Cirque 2000. Her memoir, “Talking with My Mouth Full: My Life as a Professional Eater,” will hit stores next year.
When Tony Hawk started skateboarding, he never dreamed that the sport would grow to what it is today — or that his name would become synonymous with skateboarding to so many people around the world. “I just always loved it and still have such a passion for it,” says the laid-back 42-year-old champ.
It’s not easy to travel incognito when every tween and teenage girl in the world knows what you look like. But Justin Bieber gave it a good shot during a recent trip to the Bahamas. When the 16-year-old pop star wanted to try out the waterslides at the Atlantis resort in Paradise Island, he wrapped a beach towel over his trademark mane of floppy blond hair.