The VIP Lounge with Dana Delany

Best known for her roles on the television shows "China Beach," "Body of Proof," and "Desperate Housewives," Dana Delany is coming to Cambridge later this month to star in The American Repertory Theater's production of Tennessee Williams's "The Night of the Iguana" at the Loeb Drama Center. The monthlong run begins Feb. 18. Delany, 60, a New York native who was raised in Stamford, Conn., now calls Santa Monica and New York City home. She said she is enjoying being in Cambridge for rehearsals. "I've always done the other side of the river, so it's nice being here and just walking around Cambridge." Delany said she greatly admires costar James Earl Jones ("I kind of just sit in rehearsal and stare at him in awe.") and other cast mates, including Amanda Plummer and Elizabeth Ashley. We caught up with Delany — who returns to a second season of the Amazon series "Hand of God" (in which she costars with Ron Perlman) on March 10 – to talk about all things travel.

— Favorite vacation destination?
— Paris. For me, travel is romance. I miss the glamour, but I try to re-create it when I travel. I have discovered the epitome of that at La Réserve hotel. Paris has it all: food, wine, style, art, and history. I did a French miniseries last year and I'd like to do more, so I am studying at L'Alliance Française to be fluent. It's never too late.

— Favorite food or drink while vacationing?
— I like living like the locals so I immediately eat and drink something fitting when I arrive. I particularly like caipirinhas and pao de queijo in Brazil.

— Where would you like to travel to but haven't?
— There are so many places I still want to see in the Middle East that are now deemed unsafe. I am sad about that and I hope we can improve our relations there. In lieu of that, I hope to go to Scandinavia this year, particularly Norway. I am obsessed with Jo Nesbo's books and Norwegian crime series.

— One item you can't leave home without when traveling?
— Neosporin. I learned from a flight attendant the trick of putting a dab in each nostril on the plane. I rarely get sick from flying now.

— Aisle or window?
— Window, bulkhead. I like the illusion of truly flying. When you're looking at the back of people's heads, it kills it.

— Favorite childhood travel memory?
— The first time I flew was on Eastern Airlines [from] New York to Miami in the early '60s. I was visiting my grandparents. The glamour, beautiful stewardesses . . . I wore a hat, dress, and white gloves. That is my image of travel and it has never left me. Even today, I glide through the airport and pretend it's still like that. Sometimes it works.

— Guilty pleasure when traveling?
— I love staying awake during trans-Atlantic flights. I read, watch movies and just think. It's suspended time. And when I arrive at my destination, I don't worry about adjusting to the time change. If I want to get up at 4 p.m., I do. There is something otherworldly about living outside of time that I enjoy.

— Best travel tip?
— If you can, stay in one place for at least 10 days. Walk, talk to the locals, step into a new world. And I highly recommend traveling solo. It's a great adventure.