By Jae-Ha Kim
Los Angeles Times
March 13, 2018
Though Chelsey Crisp is a scene stealer for her portrayal of Honey on ABC’s “Fresh Off the Boat,” the actress says she often goes unrecognized when walking around with her husband, screenwriter Rhett Reese. “It takes hair and makeup a long time to turn me into Honey,” Crisp said, laughing. “I’m very pale, so they have to put a tan on me and make my hair very big. It really is a process, but it’s so much fun playing her.” Based out of Los Angeles, Crisp is active on social media via her Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Q. Where do you spend the most time when you’re not in Hollywood working?
A. Phoenix probably. I’m from there and love it. My family is still there and my husband is from Phoenix as well. We go back a lot. Living in Los Angeles, it’s just an hour flight. We both love the heat. I’m an absolute wuss when I’m in cold weather. Interestingly, about half of my family is in Colorado, so I spend a lot of time there, but I’ve never acclimated to it. I’m a desert baby. I’m always cold on set. Constance Wu and I are always freezing on set together.
Q. How do you deal with the cold when you’re shooting outside of California?
A. (Laughs) I remember doing a movie in Virginia and it was in January. It was freezing the whole time and I promised myself that when I got back to L.A., I would never call L.A. cold again. But by the next winter, I was complaining about L.A. winters again. We are very spoiled here with the weather.
Q. What is a favorite vacation spot?
A. Kauai, the Garden Island. There’s just something so special about it. I like Hawaii because there’s great hiking and amazing beaches on the North Shore. I look like a California girl, except my skin is painted on to play Honey. I’m very white, so I’m not a huge lay-out-at-the-beach beachgoer. Don’t laugh because I’m not joking, but I’m usually the one wearing a sweater, a big hat and have an umbrella. My husband’s the same way though. (Laugh.)
Q. What do you like best about filming outside of California?
A. I enjoy being in different places. I have filmed in Atlanta a few times and loved everything about it. The people are exceptional and the food — wow! It has its own entertainment industry set up there now. I have filmed in New Orleans as well and felt similarly about the industry there. When I compare it to L.A., which is so production oriented, it’s kind of nice to see it from non-jaded eyes. Often when you go shoot somewhere else, people are really excited to have you there, so there’s a sense of helpfulness that comes from the community. When you live in New York or Los Angeles, you already know what it’s like to see actors walking around or to have your street closed off for production.
Q. Can you share a memory about traveling when you were younger?
A. The first time I traveled on my own without my family, I was 20 and in college. I went with a Shakespeare program in England. I was a student and wide-eyed and full of wonder. It was a wonderful trip. It was great to travel and see how people viewed the United States from a foreign point of view.
Q. Have you ever taken a job because the location was so enticing?
A. Oh, yes. It wasn’t a film or TV job. Universal Studios was opening a new park in Singapore and they asked me to go there for a year. I helped open the park. It was hard to leave L.A., to step out of the business for a year, but the idea of living in Singapore and experiencing everything about that part of the world was something I couldn’t pass up. It was an amazing year. Singapore is such an incredible country. It was fascinating and I loved it.
Q. Did you use your Singapore base as an opportunity to travel to other Asian countries?
A. My job was really intense and I didn’t get as much time off as I had wanted, but I got to go to Thailand for about a week. It was gorgeous. I went to Phucket and had a wonderful time at the beach. It was so relaxing. There are a couple of Indonesian islands very near Singapore that are about an hour away by ferry. Those you could do a weekend trip. It was amazing to be somewhere where the countries are so close together. We’re not used to that here. Weekend trips to Cambodia. Weekend trips to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). It was pretty easy to get around over there. I just didn’t have a ton of free time.
Q. How adventurous are you about dining overseas?
A. I like trying new food, but since I am mostly vegan, I can be a little picky about food. I don’t have a delicate stomach or anything like that, though.
Q. Where would you like to visit next?
A. In the U.S., Chicago is the number one place I want to go to. I am dying to go there and see Second City and all the wonderful places. I’m such a comedy nerd.
© 2018 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
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