Shining a spotlight on celebrities and athletes who love to travel. Created and developed by Stacy Steponate Greenberg.
For most people, being a host or an actor or a producer or a philanthropist would take up pretty much every hour of the day. Obviously, Oliver Trevena isn’t like most people – he is, in fact, quite possibly the busiest person in show business and that is just the way he wants it. British born and raised, Trevena knew he wanted to be in the limelight from as early as age six when he played Fritz in the Nutcracker. Off he went to the South East Theater Society and RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) to hone his skills. From there, Hollywood took over and he has not stopped since. Most recently, Trevena spent eight years interviewing celebrities as the Host of the digital sensation Young Hollywood and is now set to Host a slew of new shows working with Endemol Shine Beyond. Trevena is also heavily involved with the charity NOT FOR SALE, which “works to protect people and communities around the world from human trafficking and modern-day slavery”. The Overhead Compartment turned the tables for a day to interview this multi-talented artist for more details on his latest and greatest projects and to find out just what happened one time with his faithful Bulldog.
THE OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT with Oliver Trevena starts now….
OC: You were born and raised in England and studied acting and dancing throughout your childhood. What is your earliest recollection of performing in front of people?
OT: I think the most prominent memory was probably the Nutcracker. I was about 6 years old and I played Fritz in the Nutcracker. I remember wearing my tights and being out on the stage and thinking “I guess this is it!” And I loved it.
OC: You were the host of the highly successful show YoungHollywood for many years, which is considered the leading digital celebrity network for millennials. What was your most memorable interview?
OT: My most memorable interview was probably Drew Barrymore. She was so sweet, so nice and even when I bump into her now, she is so friendly.
OC: Currently you are working with Endemol Shine Beyond hosting a number of shows. Can you give us some insight?
OT: I am hosting several shows under their umbrella. A few include developing a series with Alex da Kid which will be an intimate look into the music scene and a sit down with the artists, a dance show and few more shows, so it’s a really exciting time.
OC: You occasionally bring your English Bulldog, Georgie, on set for a number of interviews. Has she ever disrupted an interview?
OT: She passed gas in an interview once and it was to the point that we had to stop recording because we were choking. She doesn’t do it a lot, but that time it was pretty bad.
OC: You have also hosted a show called “Ollywood”, what’s that about?
OT: I started this on Fox. It was a chance for me to shoot some great interviews such as Kelsey Grammer and Wilmer Valderrama to name a few, and I actually got them to do this segment called Monkey Talk. They put on a monkey suit and I put on a banana suit and we are on a green screen and it looks like we are running through the jungle while I ask them questions. It’s been a chance to do my thing and have fun with it.
OC: What is your favorite city to visit for work?
OT: Probably New York. New York always brings something different. No trip to NY is ever the same. Although I always do like to go home, back to London and work because I can tie it in with a family trip.
OC: You are an Ambassador for the organization Not For Sale, that “works to protect people and communities around the world from human trafficking and modern-day slavery”. How did you get involved?
OT: I got involved when I met the head of the charity, David Batstone. It was mind blowing and I thought, “this cannot be real.” There are many countries that try and sweep it under the rug. It’s a problem that is everywhere and while I am not a father, I have nieces and nephews and when you hear about kids that are 4 and 5 years old being forced into the sex trafficking industry, it’s pretty disgusting. I don’t think you can turn a blind eye to it.
OC: You also have a strong presence in fashion industry representing the clothing company All Saints. Have you always loved clothes?
OT: All Saints is a British brand started in East London. As a teenager I used to save up every penny I had and get the train up to Brighton from Hastings which is where they had one of their first stores. And I would spend every penny on clothes, I have always been that kind of guy. All Saints launched in the US about 8 years ago and signed me as their Global Brand Ambassador.
OC: What is the key to looking good when traveling?
OT: I always try to make any outfit individual to me. It’s about being anywhere in the world you have your look, and it also makes it a lot easier then. I don’t have to spend hours packing, I know me, couple jackets, couple jeans, nice pair of boots. Starting from the feet up is just as important for me as for women. Some guys will go out and buy themselves a great jacket, but then they are wearing this hideous pair of shoes. I mean, if you go out to dinner and take the jacket off…what are you left with? When traveling you want to look good but be comfortable and feel relaxed.
OC: Check or carry-on?
OT: I just started managing to pack a carry on. It helps so much…and baggage claim has gotten so much worse. I flew into NY last summer and spent two hours at the baggage claim waiting, because they misplaced the bag. Definitely carry-on.
OC: What is the first thing you do when arriving in a hotel room?
OT: I actually unpack. It’s something my mum and dad drilled in me. Wherever we would go as kids, no matter how excited we were, we would pull in to this amazing place and they would say…just unpack first. It actually makes the rest of the trip nicer when you come back into your hotel room and your clothes are away and the bag is in a corner. So I unpack.
OC: Complete the following sentence: I never leave home without:
OT: Georgie. She comes every where with me. She is a staple. Unless it’s international. Georgie and my wallet….since that’s the world we live in.
Oliver Trevena, please use care upon departure as items may have shifted in The Overhead Compartment during our journey. Thanks for choosing us for your travel tips! Have a wonderful day!
Photo credit: Randall Slavin
