Celebrity Travel: Go away with Margaret Avery

With an acting career spanning more than five decades, Margaret Avery’s latest role is on the Netflix comedy, “A Man on the Inside,” which has been renewed for a second season. “My character, Florence, has accepted the passing of her husband and has discovered a love for poetry to aid in her grieving process,” said Avery, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Shug in “The Color Purple.” “She has made a new best friend, Virginia, who is played by Sally Struthers. Florence [would make a great travel companion], particularly to places that allowed exploration into the lives of her favorite poets. She is very frugal, a trait I share, so she might be a stickler on over-spending and would be looking for the best travel deals. [The show] was filmed mostly on a set here in Los Angeles. We did go to beautiful San Francisco to shoot exterior scenes.”

Q: Do you prefer filming on location or on a set?

A: I prefer a combination of both, actually. Working on set allows the planned schedule as you don’t have to worry about weather. Location shooting allows the exploration of a new environment on my off days.

Q: What can you share about filming “The Color Purple”?

A: I have fond memories of filming “The Color Purple.” We, the cast, knew it was special and felt it to be a project of love, demanding the challenge of performing to our personal best. We wanted to please Alice Walker, as it was her Pulitzer Prize-winning story. It was Steven [Spielberg]’s first dramatic film, Whoopi [Goldberg]’s first film, Oprah [Winfrey]’s first film, my first film of significance. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented group of people. The film led to my current industry recognition and played a major part in 53 years of longevity in this business.

Q: Growing up, did you feel that as a young Black girl, the world treated you differently because you are a minority?

A: I grew up in San Diego during the ’50s, and it was a racist environment then. I was taught at an early age that a colored girl must work 10 times harder than the whites. People that looked like me could not purchase homes in certain neighborhoods. Articles in the local papers about colored people were limited to stories of crime. My memories hold some hurtful experiences, but, thank goodness, times have changed. The experience helped to develop a strong work ethic. Through education, travel, friendships and associations, I’ve learned to appreciate differences in people, including sexual identity. We are all God’s children. Let God be the judge.

Q: Do you have any upcoming trips planned?

A: I am planning to go on a European tour – take advantage of all those great countries that are geographically close. I’d love to see the castles in person, not just in the movies.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: Jamaica. I especially love mango season there.

Q: Have you ever picked an acting role based on where it was filmed?

A: It’s always about the script and its message. Filming in North Carolina for “The Color Purple” made me appreciate greenery. Having grown up in California we didn’t see a ton of greenery because of the drought. There is a scene where Whoopi and I are walking through the flowers. Those were actually planted by the art department and the locals said they would never grow in that season, but they did.

Q: What was a trip you took as a child that stands out?

A: At the age of 13, my mom put me on a Greyhound bus to visit my grandparents in Oklahoma. At the New Mexico stop, I met a civil rights group bound for Itta Bena, Mississippi. Their mission was to protest racial injustice. I decided on the spot to join them. They welcomed me into their Volkswagen Squareback station wagon and off we went to cure the world. We stayed in private local homes. Protesting at a segregated restaurant, a German shepherd police dog attacked me and left a scar on my arm. The scar has faded, but not the terrifying memory. To this day, the German shepherd is the only dog I fear. The irony of the protest was that an African black man speaking French was allowed to sit at the counter.

Q: What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?

A: I learned to pack clothes only, leave my American ways. Be open and respectful of a new culture and ideas. Be ready for an adventure in seeing and learning something new.

Q: If you could only pick one place to eat, would you prefer a food truck or fine dining?

A: I would prefer fine dining, particularly when traveling, because it would have a wider range of choices. However, I would probably risk losing the uniqueness of the local’s food palate because fine dining is prone to cooking for the tourists vs. the locals – not using the full amount of spices, which means missing out on the true culture.

Q: What were your plans for this holiday season?

A: To enjoy being with family and reconnecting with friends that I don’t see during the year. I value this time more and more as I grow older.

Q: What languages do you speak?

A: I speak a little Spanish. I learned it in high school. Over the years, it has diminished because of the change in vocabulary among Latin Americans of various countries.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: San Francisco, New York. I love Paris. New Orleans. Copenhagen. But I look forward to adding more to this list.

Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?

A: When I was singing in Jakarta years ago, many people suggested I should visit Bali. They said it was a must see. Regretfully, my visa did not allow it on that trip, so it is now on my go-see list.

Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?

A: A great moisturizer, seasonal clothes that don’t scream tourist, a must-see list and my suggestion is to always pack light and know that weight limits vary from country to country.

Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?

A: My best and worst vacation memory is actually the same. I was in Montego Bay and I had the most glorious open-air suite overlooking the ocean. I came back from a lovely dinner to find a huge five-foot snake exploring my room. I am terrified of snakes, so hasta la vista.

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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and journalist. You can reach her at www.jaehakim.com, follow her on Instagram and X @goawaywithjae, or read more from her on Substack (jaehakim.substack.com).)