Actress a lifelong train travel aficionada
Rosanna Arquette says she feels grateful when people recognize her for her activism as much as for her acting (“Desperately Seeking Susan,” “Pulp Fiction”). Her latest role is as Mary on the new YouTube Premium series, “Sideswiped.”
“While I was shooting this show, which I’m very excited about, I was dealing with all of the Harvey Weinstein stuff,” said Arquette, who was one of the first women to publicly speak out about the film producer; she says he threatened to sink her career after she refused his demands for sex. “Shooting the series was such a good distraction during that time. And with all the things going on (in politics now), I hope that people will watch the show and laugh.”
An edited version of our conversation follows.
A: We all want escapism. Going away on a vacation can be great. I do a television show now to make people laugh. It’s a comedy and it’s really good, but it is also a good distraction from what’s going on in the world.
A: I lived in Chicago for a long time. I love Chicago! It’s one of my favorite cities. I went to Joseph Brennemann School and Louisa May Alcott Elementary School. I lived there from about 4 to 8 years old, and then again when I was about 15. I was just there a couple years ago for Lollapalooza.
A: It’s embarrassing to say, but I never really dated much, because I worked from the time I was 18 and didn’t have a lot of time to date. But my husband and I travel a lot. We enjoy that. That counts as memorable dates, right? (Laughs)
A: Yes and no. He loves to travel. And I realize how I’m very lucky to be able to travel and I don’t take it lightly. I love to go to different parts of the world and so does he. But he likes more fancy things, and I’m more of the backpack and sleeping-on-the-floor in different places kind of traveler. I like to explore a little bit more, so I went to India without him.
A: Yes, I do. They’re really fun and I think they’re important to do. I missed out on one that I wish I could’ve gone on. Some girlfriends of mine did a trip in Bhutan and I would’ve loved to have done that. I’ll try to do that one day. I went with a great group of women to Standing Rock (Indian Reservation) to protest the pipeline. That was quite an amazing experience.
A: Anywhere in Italy. I love spending time in Italy. Traveling is a great way to find really great, authentic food. I’m looking forward to spending more time in Mexico.
A: I came from a Bohemian, hippie family. My mother really loved trains. When we did travel, we took trains. When I was a kid, I remember sleeping in the sleeper cars and having meals on really nice linen tablecloths with silverware. I wish people would start taking trains across the country again. I love them still. It’s such a neat way to travel.
A: We did! A couple years ago, we went on the Orient Express as an anniversary present (to ourselves). It was really fun. We were in France and Italy.