Istanbul trip opens up eyes to refugees
Since starring in the film “Coyote Ugly,” Piper Perabo has kept busy adding to a long resume of movies and television work. After five seasons as CIA operative Annie Walker on USA Network’s “Covert Affairs,” Perabo now stars as a TV news producer in the new ABC series “Notorious.” An avid traveler, the actress credits her trips for getting her involved with the International Rescue Committee.
“I was working in Istanbul, and there were so many Syrian refugees there,” Perabo says. “Until then, it hadn’t hit me how far many of them had walked with their families to try to find safety and work. That was an awakening for me.”
An edited version of our conversation follows. Your heritage is English, German, Irish and Norwegian. Have you visited any of those countries?
I have not. I just saw a lot of my Norwegian family at a wedding, but they came over here. It seems like they always come to us. I would love to visit all those places one day. What is your favorite vacation destination?
I remember being in Hong Kong, and it was just one of those amazing places. The food was so good. They have these amazing pork buns that I have never forgotten about. I also loved that there were so many beautiful temples. How adventurous are you with food?
I’m pretty good. I eat a lot and really enjoy trying new things. I was filming in Marrakesh and walking around with some guys from our crew in a rough part of the city. We saw all these workmen lined up to buy lunch at this open stall. [The vendor] had wedged her cart in between two buildings. Our feeling was that if these guys were willing to wait in line and pay hard-earned money for food from this little cart, then it must be pretty good. I can still taste the grilled eggplant, french fries and the delicious pita bread. I’ll eat from a street cart any day. In “Covert Affairs,” your character spoke 26 languages. How about you in real life?
[Laughs.] I love languages, but I’m not fluent in anything other than English. I studied French in high school and can speak it like a little kid. I can ask for directions. My next goal is to learn Spanish. Living in Southern California, where so many people speak it, I’d love to be able to join in a conversation. It’s so beautiful.
QHave you traveled to a place where you didn’t find any English speakers?
Of course. I was climbing glaciers in southern Patagonia, and the only other person who spoke English was a girl from Korea who could speak English and Spanish. What is on your travel bucket list?
I really want to get to Marfa, Texas. I’m interested in the art scene there. I’ve never been to North Dakota. I would also like to see the Badlands [in South Dakota]. I’ve heard that landscape is really incredible to see. Japan — I’ve never been there and would like to go to Kyoto in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Japan is so culturally rich and has an elegant and long history. I would love to go to Nairobi. My grandmother was there before, and it always seemed romantic to me. I’d love to go to Cairo and also spend time in southern Mexico, like Oaxaca. For more from the reporter, visit www.jaehakim.com.