Actress Kristine Nielsen said she has fond memories of summers spent on Cape Cod and hopes that when she is in Cambridge for “Rhinoceros,” playing at the American Repertory Theater Aug. 14-Sept. 17, she can visit. “I love the sort of loneliness of it and yet the beauty of it,” Nielsen said in a recent phone call from Brooklyn, where rehearsals were being held for the Eugène Ionesco play. “It’s a really great place for me to get my head cleared out and my soul sort of refurbished.” The Tony-nominated performer and two-time Obie Award recipient, who has appeared in several Broadway shows and off-Broadway productions and TV shows, is — in addition to rehearsing for “Rhinoceros” — filming the fourth season of HBO’s “The Gilded Age,” in which she plays Mrs. Bauer. “This is a good season,” she said. “There’s a lot of intrigue going on — as well as heartbreak. It’s a sexy season.” Nielsen said that she is excited for audiences to see “Rhinoceros,” directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (“Diane is so wonderful and interesting. As an actor, she opens the door for you to go far — and then brings you back if you go too far,” Nielsen shared. “She anchors you in a good way.”) and starring Paul Giamatti, John Turturro, and Tatiana Maslany. “It’s a show you want to see if you want a good laugh,” she said. “We’re always inundated with bad news, or news that divides us. Sometimes you can learn something, and it can actually be funny.” We caught up with Nielsen, who was born in Northern California, raised in Washington, D.C., and now lives in New York City with her husband, actor Brent Langdon, to talk about all things travel.
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
I want to go to Egypt. The Pyramids, the Sphinx, and the Egyptian tombs fascinate me. I saw years ago the traveling museum show of Egyptian artifacts and the boy Pharaoh King Tut — and add going down/up the Nile and staying at the hotel where Agatha Christie stayed and wrote about. Also, I want to ride a camel.
Do you prefer booking trips through a travel agent or on your own?
I book myself — but Egypt might be different.
Thoughts on an “unplugged” vacation?
I always think I’ll go unplugged, but in this world, it’s nice to stay connected to family. I never want to miss anything my young great-nieces and nephews are doing. The news … that I can skip.
What has been your worst vacation experience?
I’ve been lucky. I haven’t really had a bad trip. My only mild disruption happened in Mexico City two or three years ago. I had planned my trip to avoid Day of the Dead celebrations and didn’t realize the scope of the Day of the Madres [Mother’s Day]. It closed down central parts of the city, and we were kind of trapped in our hotel. But seeing the parade was truly wonderful. I regret not seeing more of the city; it’s much larger than I expected.
What is your favorite childhood travel memory?
My mom loved President Kennedy, so when I was young, we made the trek to Cape Cod. We rented houses the first two summers, but she fell in love with Cotuit and found a sea captain’s house, so my parents bought a house there.
Do you vacation to relax, to learn, or for the adventure of it all?
It depends on what’s going on in our lives. I love history, so I’m always trying to see historic sites and museums. And I take advantage of seeing everything I can in cities I work in — especially off-the-beaten-path oddities. I loved the bowling museum in St. Louis, Churchill Downs in Louisville, the doll houses in the Chicago Art Museum, the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia, and in Alaska, watching Buddy the bald eagle spread its wings to keep me away from his handler, to whom he was very attached.
What book do you plan on bringing with you to read on your next vacation?
Maybe the new Colson Whitehead novel [“Cool Machine”] or I vowed to reread Dickens. I read all of his books all at once when I was backstage in the dressing room doing an ensemble part at the Guthrie Theater [in Minneapolis], and I had lots of time. Needless to say, they’re all jumbled together in my mind.
If you could travel with one famous person/celebrity, who would it be?
Maybe Christopher Nolan. How did he do it? And why did he insist it had to be in IMAX? I’m sure I’ll know when I can finally get a ticket, but bravo! All my young family members are only talking about “The Odyssey” and are now reading it.
What is the best gift to give a traveler?
A walking map of the city they are visiting.
What is your go-to snack for a flight or a road trip?
I don’t bring a snack, but bottled water is essential.
What is the coolest souvenir you’ve picked up on a vacation?
An eagle feather. It was on the forest floor in Sitka [Alaska] and a very nice ranger told me I could keep it. Also, we took dirt from Athens because it was so important to realize how much theater was a part of ancient citizens’ lives.
What is your favorite app/website for travel?
I use everything: TripAdvisor, Rick Steves, Fodors, friends …
What has travel taught you?
How young our country is, how big the world is, and how small it actually is.
What is your best travel tip?
Stay curious, assume you know nothing, and let your travel teach you.
Juliet Pennington can be reached at writeonjuliet@comcast.net.