Arctic Air star dreams of hot vacations in Jamaica or the Caribbean,
Actor Adam Beach, the star of CBC’S Arctic Air, is in Toronto for an industry function. But only briefly.
Travel is part of life for the easygoing star whose television credits include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Big Love, North of 60, The Rez, and film roles include Flags of Our Fathers and Cowboys & Aliens.
Born in Ashern, Man., Beach grew up on the Dog Creek First Nation reserve before moving to Winnipeg. Comfortable as a role model, the star inspires kids across Canada with his life story: the death of his parents at a young age, his upbringing and the importance of his native heritage as well as his acting success.
With a lot of miles behind him — both fictional and real — Adam Beach just keeps moving on.
Q: What’s your favourite vacation spot and why?
A: I like Taos, New Mexico. There’s just an unchanged heritage of the land. It still pays homage to the late 1800s and you feel that a lot hasn’t changed, so I would go with Taos.
Q: You were recently in Costa Rica — was that for work or pleasure?
A: It was both work and pleasure. I was helping a buddy with his company out there just kind of (in) negotiation with business people on how to try and get Native products for distribution or build a business relationship with it.
Q: Are you travelling more for business or to get away from business?
A: About half and half. It’s like where ever I go, someone is always needing my help in their aspirations to whatever it is. They’ve seen my journey as someone coming from a bad neighbourhood to a Hollywood star really reflecting some sort of integrity to help out people.
Q: Are you comfortable with that?
A: I like the role, I like that our nation’s teenagers have somebody to look up to.
Q: When you are finally on vacation, do you take it easy?
A: I’m a layabout. And most of the swimming I do is just bobbing up and down in the water enjoying the current, as opposed to exhausting myself swimming.
Q: What’s your must-have item when you travel?
A: I need my shaver — my electric shaver and face scrub. No ipod. I don’t want to lose it. Just the necessities; I need my cellphone.
Q: What’s on your dream list of places to visit?
A: I want to go to the Caribbean; I heard it’s beautiful there. Some people said check out Jamaica — so I think all the hot places. Q: So you enjoy the beach then? A: Well I am Adam Beach!
Q: Clothes . . . what do you pack?
A: I’m just a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy. I have more underwear packed than my t-shirts and more t-shirts packed than my jeans. Q: Boxers or briefs? Who are you wearing — as they say on the red carpet. A: My underwear is Calvin Klein briefs and the jeans are Joe’s Jeans and Lucky Brand Jeans and I got this new pair that I really like but I don’t know what they’re called . . . I just try and keep my brain clear of any clutter of collecting stuff. I try my best to keep colour-coordinated so I stick to blacks and greys and blue and red. Q: When you’re recognized on the road, what do you do?
A: Put on a smile, shake hands, talk about your life and keep moving on. Q: Arctic Air features storylines of daring bush pilots in the far north — do you ever get a nod from the pilots when you board a commercial flight? A: Oh yeah they take care of me very well everywhere I go — it’s pretty cool.
Q: What’s your worst-ever travel experience?
A: Just when you step up to meet people and they don’t even say good morning. You know it’s that simple. And you can see it’s like they’re looking for a match in aggressive behaviour and it just all starts with ‘Good morning — how’s your day?’ you know?
Just coming here (flying from Los Angeles to Toronto) there was this sense of people not in a good mood and one officer at the airport finally said ‘ Good morning, how are you?’ and that just cleared up the day.
Q: What’s your most memorable trip?
A: I think every time I go home to Winnipeg. It’s a place I miss and it’s a reminder of everything I’ve done. I grew up without parents so my aunts and uncles and brothers are extremely valuable (to me).
Q: Does travel inspire you?
A: Yes, because I always meet people who are travelling for business and it inspires me that they can share their bright ideas.