Jetsetting With “The Canyons” Actress Tenille Houston
Stunning actress Tenille Houston is turning heads in the headline-making, neo-noir film “The Canyons,” starring alongside Lindsay Lohan and James Deen. Tenille also stars in the wildly hilarious Yahoo! web series, “The Flip Side”, which is quickly becoming a viral sensation garnering millions of views worldwide. In her free time, Tenille enjoys the outdoors with her two dogs, going hiking, canoeing, and kayaking.
Q: What type of traveler are you? (i.e., adventurer, cultural explorer, free spirit, rejuvenator, spa aficionado, etc.)
A: I’m an adventurer for sure. I love to have a few things planned out to get me started but then be completely open to stumbling across something amazing. I like to travel by foot to see every nook and cranny of where I am visiting, and when moving between cities I prefer to rent a car so I can pull off of the road if something jumps out at me.
Q: What types of activities do you like to do on your travels?
A: I love finding local restaurants off the beaten path, as I am a total foodie. And I love seeing plays and shows and taking tours around the city to really learn its history.
Q: Do you look for a place where it’s quiet and you can relax or someplace that has great activities or nightlife?
A: I like to be right to in the center of the action so I can venture out during the day on hikes or day trips and then, as I make my way back to my room, I can hit the restaurants and bars for great nightlife.
Q: When thinking about where you will travel to next, what inspires you to make a decision?
A: I want to go everywhere. Usually I plan trips around an event I want to go to or a friend who moved overseas I can visit. For instance, I am going to the Venice Film Festival this year so I decided to make a trip to Austria and Switzerland, as they are close by and I have already traveled throughout Italy.
Q: What, if any, research do you do about that destination?
A: I do crazy research before I go anywhere so I can learn about the culture and really understand the most efficient way to see everything. I am old school in my research, though: When it comes to travel I like to go into actual bookstores, and I will spend hours reading through travel books. Something about the Internet makes it too overwhelming and impersonal; I love having the books in my hand.
Q: What is the most memorable trip you’ve taken and why?
A: I went to Thailand with my mom and dad for Christmas in 2002, and we had such an amazing time together. It was the last trip I ever took with my dad because he passed away in December the following year. We rode elephants and saw the most ornate temples. Absolutely breathtaking!
Q: What is the best food you’ve ever found on a trip?
A: In Venice I ate pizza everyday; the last day I was there I ordered an olive oil-based pizza with cheese, capers, and prosciutto. It was insane. I plan to get it the first day I’m back in Venice. A close second was in Helsinki where I had reindeer. My best friend still gives me grief about eating Bambi, but it was worth it.
Q: What, if anything, do you always take with you when you travel?
A: A cross-shoulder bag so I can carry a water bottle and money without occupying my hands. And my Sugar lip balm, which I can’t live without.
Q: What’s your best piece of travel advice?
A: Don’t check bags. Roll your clothes to avoid wrinkles and get the most space in your suitcase. Buy a bag as big as a carry-on size and use it as your “personal” item. Between the two you have plenty of space. I went to Scandinavia for 12 days during winter and was golden. You always shop during travel so that gives you more clothing options, and I put an empty LeSportsac in my luggage to fill up with purchases on the way, which can be checked on the flight home.
Q: Is there a destination to which you can’t imagine not returning?
A: I want to go back to Rome. There is so much history and culture to take in, four days just wasn’t enough. I want to spend another week there at least.
Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A: Joshua Tree is perfect for a quick camping and hiking trip with my dogs, or Big Bear in the hotter summer months. For a more relaxing weekend getaway I go to South Coast Winery Resort & Spa in Temecula. They have darling villas on the vineyard with fireplaces and huge jetted bathtubs. It is pure rest and relaxation.
Q: Where would you like to travel to next?
A: I have a trip scheduled to Venice, Austria, and Switzerland at the end of August, which I am psyched about. Next on my list are Greece and the Greek Isles. I am dying to go and swim in the crystal clear water and see the architecture.
Q: Tell us about your upcoming project(s)?
A: “The Canyons” is currently in theaters and was released on video on demand on August 9, which is so exciting. It’s a dark, psycho-sexual thriller written by Bret Easton Ellis, directed by Paul Schrader, and starring Lindsay Lohan, Nolan Funk, James Deen, and myself. I also just finished a film called “The List,” which is a hilarious romantic-comedy with Patrick Fugit, Jennifer Morrison, and Eddie Kaye Thomas.
Tenille Houston’s Bio:
After earning a Master’s in public administration and climbing the ladder at Northrop Grumman, Sacramento native Tenille Houston honed in on her acting chops by taking classes in Los Angeles while commuting from San Diego. Tenille’s accolades include roles in the Charlie Sheen-produced indie flick “She Wants Me” with Hilary Duff, ABC’s Kristen Chenoweth series “GCB,” “How I Met Your Mother,” and “Desperate Housewives.”
Follow Tenille on Twitter.
