MEGAN HILTY
Actress pines to get back to Japan
Broadway star Megan Hilty won rave reviews for her portrayal of Glinda the Good Witch in “Wicked” and was nominated for a Tony Award for her characterization of Brooke Ashton in “Noises Off.” Her latest projects include a holiday CD, “A Merry Little Christmas” and a co-starring role in the Warren Beatty film “Rules Don't Apply.”
“We filmed the movie about 21/2 years ago,” says Hilty, 35, a Seattle native. “Since then I've had a baby and am pregnant with my second and don't remember everything. Ha! But I do know that all of my scenes were filmed in a building that actually housed actresses in the '50s.”
An edited version of our conversation follows.
?
Definitely Hawaii. There is something about being on an island in the middle of the ocean that forces you to slow down and relax in a way you can't do anywhere else. And it's so beautiful. The obvious thing to do is grab a book and head to the beach, but for more active travelers, like me and my husband, there are so many wonderful places to hike and ride bikes.
?
My parents liked to rent RVs, and we'd take long road trips. Me and my sisters loved it. We'd do anything from camping in Washington state to driving all the way to Disneyland from Seattle. It didn't matter where we went, we always had a great time because we were together.
?
I was an exchange student in Kyoto, Japan, when I was in middle school. The beauty of the country and culture, in addition to the extremely generous and kind people I met there, really made an impact on me. I'm still desperately trying to get back there.
?
I haven't taken my husband there yet, but there is a place near where I grew up called Snoqualmie Falls [in Washington state]. There is a beautiful lodge in the middle of the woods next to a giant, gorgeous waterfall. You can hike down to the bottom of it from the lodge, and, to me, it's incredibly romantic.
?
When I was in college in Pittsburgh, my family decided to spend Thanksgiving in New York City. It was a magical trip because New York is so gorgeous at that time of the year. We went to the Thanksgiving Day parade, saw the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, had an amazing dinner and started the holiday season by experiencing all of the festive lights and decorations that New York does so well.
?
New York, Seattle, Paris, Melbourne and Las Vegas.
?
Greece, Italy, Ireland and New Zealand.
?
A couple of packets of almond butter, a good book — a real book, not an e-reader — cash for tips and emergencies, and a phone charger.