ELEGRAPH – Olga Kurylenko, the actress and former Bond girl, recalls the beauty of the Atacama Desert and reveals why she would never go travelling alone.
How often do you travel?
All the time. I’m constantly packing and unpacking my suitcase. I’ve been travelling a lot for work between London, where I’m based, and Paris, Prague and other places in Europe. The last big trip I did was to Australia to shoot a film with Russell Crowe called The Water Diviner and I really enjoyed it there. I’ve been before, but this time I was there for an extended period shooting in Sydney. It’s a beautiful city with great restaurants, amazing theatres and amazing animals and birds at the Sydney Zoo. I enjoyed walking everywhere, exploring the parks and was really impressed with the city.
What do you need for a perfect holiday?
To have people around me, loved ones – be they family or friends. If you’re in good company, even if you have nothing much to explore, you can still have a great time talking to each other and discovering more about yourself. I also need a bit of nature – beautiful lakes, scenery and landscapes – plus good weather and architecture. Good food is also very important.
Most memorable filming location?
The most fascinating place I’ve been for a film was the Atacama Desert in Chile where Quantum of Solace [see the trailer below] was shot. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was such a beautiful location.
I also love going to Prague, where I’ve done a lot of shoots, for the architecture and great restaurants. It was a dream to go to Iceland for the filming of the movie Oblivion [see the trailer below], so I combined it with a holiday, arriving a week earlier than the date I was needed on set. I took a big jeep and went to see glaciers, geysers, lava and dry lava, which you can walk on. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.
I’ll never forget the modelling shoot I did in the Bahamas on a pink sand beach at Harbour Island. It felt like I’d just landed in paradise, it was so beautiful. I’ve also been to Zanzibar for a modelling shoot, which was stunning, and Mumbai, which was so different from anywhere I’d been before. I’ve been dreaming about returning to India and exploring more of it since.
Another memorable one was on Boulders Beach near Cape Town, where all of these penguins were walking around next to us while the shoot took place. I was also in Costa Rica for a photo shoot and what struck me most there were all the different colours I saw, from pink and fuchsia to yellow and purple, and there were flowers everywhere. I also remember watching a volcano erupting there at night and red lava shot into the sky. It was magical.
Favourite city?
Paris is my favourite place in the world because I spent most of my life there until recently and all of my friends are there. I would never go travelling on my own. Some people like to go backpacking alone but there’s no way I would do that, even if you paid me – I just don’t see the point. If I discover something beautiful, for me it’s very important to be able to share it with someone and not just see it for myself.
Favourite hotel?
I love Parisian hotels. I usually stay in either Le Bristol, which is gorgeous, or Hotel Paris Rivoli, which is very French and feels like a step back in time. I also love the luxury of Waldorf Astoria hotels. I recently shot an advert at their Chicago property. The rooms and the lobby are stunning, as is the furniture, and the service is always great.
Worst travel experience?
Skiing in Zermatt – not knowing how to ski was the problem. I went with my friends and family, who all know how to ski, so we all went on a slope that was not for beginners. I started sliding down the slope and it freaked me out, so I made myself fall deliberately before I started going too fast. But Zermatt is a great resort for après ski so I had fun swimming and eating plenty of tasty cheese fondues instead.
What do you hate about holidays?
Travelling through airports. They can be so crowded, you have to stand in long queues and if you’re travelling during high season, such as during Christmas, they’re packed and you have to get there hours in advance, which is quite annoying.
Favourite airline?
My favourite one for a few years has been Air France. I also like British Airways, which I travel with often. Their food and service are great.
Best piece of travel advice?
Pack everything you might need. I’m quite a health freak and am always scared that I’ll get sick in a foreign country, so I take a lot medicine with me, as well as entertainment such as my iPad, a book or even a notepad, so you don’t get stuck in a place with nothing to do, which I hate.
What has travelling taught you?
About different cultures and how people are different in every country, from how they eat to what their family values are. I always try to learn a few words from a new language wherever I go.
Where next?
If I get a chance this year, I’d love to spend some time in Asia, visiting various countries including Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. I’d also love to do a safari trip in Kenya and whale watching in New Zealand.
