1. If your passport could tell one story you’ve never told publicly, which page would it open to?
It would open to my childhood travels across Russia with my father, who attended scientific conferences. Those trips introduced me to history, culture, and the joy of discovery at a young age. Some of my happiest memories are from summers on the Crimean Sea when I was between ten and thirteen years old—chasing sea crabs, climbing rocks with local teenagers, eating fruit straight from the gardens, and taking dusty bus rides to ancient monasteries and ruins.
One place that fascinated me was Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. I became obsessed with its centuries-old preserved monks and would return again and again, especially to see the hand of one monk pointing upward—a mystery that filled me with wonder.
It makes me deeply sad to see the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. I have close friends on both sides, and as a humanitarian, my heart breaks for the violence and suffering experienced by innocent civilians.
2. You spend your life stepping into other people’s stories. Has a stranger you’ve met while traveling ever become unforgettable?
There have been countless unforgettable people. I grew up traveling, and even when my family had very little, my parents always chose experiences over possessions. Instead of saving for material things, we saved to travel wherever we could. They taught me that experiences are life’s greatest wealth.
Travel naturally opens your mind. I love observing people, learning about different cultures, and having conversations with strangers. At the end of the day, we’re all simply human. Every conversation expands my perspective and reminds me to stay empathetic.
3. Travel often changes our perspective. Has there been a place that completely transformed the way you approach your art?
Although I traveled extensively throughout Russia as a child, it was still a closed post-Soviet society with rigid ways of thinking. We were taught that smiling was unnecessary, creativity belonged to eccentric people, and following institutional rules was expected.
My first trip abroad was to London, followed by Paris, and Paris completely changed me. I fell in love with French culture—the melancholy, the nostalgia, and the appreciation for beauty in everyday life. Living there as a young foreign model, I learned to enjoy quiet moments: reading in cafés, sitting in the Luxembourg Gardens with a baguette, or having picnics along the Seine.
Paris taught me that work and success can coexist with joy, beauty, and reflection. That lesson profoundly shaped both my life and my art.
4. Your comedy is fearless, while your poetry is deeply vulnerable. How do those two sides of your personality coexist?
I believe those qualities complement one another rather than contradict each other.
When I first started acting, I met my wonderful teacher Janet Alhanti. She told me something I’ll never forget: “Your vulnerability is your strength. And don’t forget to pull the weeds out of your garden.” Her daughter, Iris Klein, continues that legacy by creating extraordinary acting classes.
Later, another mentor, Alex Taylor, often reminded me that “Artists are mirrors to society. Always choose truth before simply being kind.”
Being vulnerable means placing your heart on the table without knowing how people will respond. It’s terrifying, but when someone truly connects with your work, it’s one of the most meaningful experiences life can offer. Every day I strive to become a little more authentic—in both my art and my relationships.
5. Every destination has its own rhythm. Which city feels most like a comedy, which feels like a drama, and which feels like a love story?
Paris somehow feels like all three. But if I had to choose, Tokyo would be a comedy because of its wonderfully unique culture and delightful surprises. Los Angeles feels like a drama—the City of Angels, where dreams and disappointments coexist side by side. And Paris will always be my love story. As Humphrey Bogart famously said in Casablanca, “We’ll always have Paris.”
6. If your life right now were the opening scene of a film, where would you set it—and what song would be playing over the first shot?
My favorite story has always been Alice in Wonderland, and that’s exactly how my life feels right now—curiouser and curiouser. The opening scene would begin in Los Angeles, where every day feels like stepping through another unexpected door into a new adventure.
7. Your poetry explores love, identity, and resilience. Do you think travel makes us better storytellers—or simply better listeners?
That’s a wonderful question. I believe listening is one of the world’s most underrated skills. It’s easy to tell your own story without noticing what’s happening around you, but true listening requires something much deeper.
Active listening isn’t waiting for your turn to speak. It’s being fully present, listening with your whole heart, without judgment or agenda. That kind of empathy doesn’t come from the mind—it begins in the heart.
8. As an actress, comedian, director, and author, what creative challenge still excites you enough to make you a little nervous?
Every new project makes me nervous—and I think that’s a good sign. I only say yes to projects that challenge me and allow me to work alongside artists I admire and can learn from.
I’m especially excited about the feature film Noon, directed by Xavier Plaud, as well as my upcoming Models of Comedy special and the television series Water Grave: Anney Rhodes Mystery Adventures.
9. Looking ahead, what kind of stories do you hope you’ll be telling five years from now—and where in the world do you imagine telling them?
This editorial was photographed in Puerto Rico with two incredible artists and dear friends, Nolan Dean and Rene Gonzales. It was a spontaneous last-minute adventure into the jungle and hidden waterfalls—exactly the kind of experience I love.
I thrive on spontaneity, improvisation, and following inspiration rather than rigid plans. I honestly don’t know where life will take me next, but I do know one thing: it won’t be boring. I’ll be surrounded by my tribe of passionate, open-minded creators—my own little gang of rebels with a cause.
10. Rapid Fire
Window or aisle?
Aisle.
Sunrise or sunset?
Sunset.
Film set or comedy club?
Comedy club on a film set.
Ocean or mountains?
Ocean.
Hotel or boutique hideaway?
Boutique hideaway.
Coffee or champagne?
Champagne, of course.
A city you’ll never get tired of?
Paris.
One destination still on your bucket list?
Norway and Antarctica.
A book everyone should read at least once?
The Secret Teachings of All Ages.
Three words that describe this chapter of your life?
Abundance. Curiosity. Freedom.
Credits
Model: Eugenia Kuzmina — @eugeniakuzmina
Photographer & Bikini Designer: Nolan Dean — @nolandeanfashion
Hair & Makeup: Rene Gonzales — @muarene
Blue Bikini: Hello Molly Swim — @hellomollyswim
Sunglasses: Velvet Eyewear
Blue Scarf: Dior — @dior
Orange Scarf: Hermès — @hermes
Hat: Nolan Dean’s own