My name is Lucy Tops and I play Heidi Hansen, Evan’s mother, in Dear Evan Hansen.
I consider myself a traveller. I don’t get to travel as much as I’d like, but I’ve been fortunate to visit some incredible places in my life so far.
My travel personality is easy-going, adventurous and curious.
I grew up in Durbanville, Cape Town. On family holidays, we often joined friends who had a home in Hermanus. I have many happy memories of lagoons, beaches, sand dunes, hiking, and braais — simple, joyful pleasures.
My first trip abroad was to Spain. We visited Benalmádena on the Costa del Sol. My father travelled frequently for work, visiting many different countries while I was growing up. Once, we got to go with him, and I have such incredible memories of that time. I fell in love with the culture and still am to this day.
In Spain, the vibrant colours of the food and traditional clothing captivated me. I thought (and still do) that the women looked like goddesses, the language was beautiful, and I used to dream of being a flamenco performer. I adore how deeply music and dance are woven into their culture. It also introduced me to their delicious cuisine, which I still love today. I returned once as a teenager and plan to go again someday to show my son.
The most adventurous destination I’ve visited was the Orange River on a college trip. Sleeping under the stars, spiders crawling over my sleeping bag, hearing and seeing fish eagles, and battling rapids — it was an exhilarating experience I will never forget and would love to do again someday.
I also have to mention the incredible experience of flying on a seaplane to an island in the Maldives. That was unforgettable. And those enormous fruit bats that soar through the sky like dinosaurs — unreal!
So far, the friendliest country I’ve been to is Thailand. The people are so warm and lovely. The least friendly was the US — at least during my visit to New York — but I didn’t mind. I had expected it after consuming so much American culture growing up. A highlight from New York was ice skating in Central Park at Christmas time with 1950s holiday songs playing in the background. Pure magic.
China was a mix of both friendly and challenging experiences, but it will always have a special place in my heart. I worked there, in a city called Hefei, straight out of college.
My perfect holiday is a balance between relaxation and adventure. I want to experience the culture, talk to locals and try the food. Sometimes, I love just throwing on a backpack and wandering about with no plan. I enjoy travelling in a group but am also very happy exploring solo.
My next bucket-list destinations include Greece, Turkey, Ireland, Scotland and many places in the US — just to name a few! That said, we are so lucky to live in such a beautiful country, and there are still so many places I need to visit right here. For now, though, one of my favourite things to do is put on my backpack, head to a nearby town like Kalk Bay, and pretend I’m a tourist.
• Catch Lucy Tops in Dear Even Hansen at Montecasino's Teatro from March 15 until April 13. Tickets available here.
