Eden Sher does such a good job portraying Patricia Heaton’s awkward teen daughter Sue Heck on the ABC series “The Middle” that people often don’t recognize her in public. “That’s good, right?” said the 19-year-old actress. “On a good day, I probably look about 16, but when the makeup and wardrobe folks are done with me, I probably look about 13.” Sher, who is on the wait list at Barnard College, said that even if she had been admitted, she would have deferred for at least another year. “I value education very much, but I know that acting opportunities won’t always be there for me. So I’m going to pursue my education a little later and just enjoy working right now.”
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: New York, hands down. I don’t want to be there in the winter, but even then it’s an amazing place.
Q: Tell me about one of your favorite trips.
A: When I was 15 and then 16 years old, I spent two summers in Nicaragua for a service project. I took Spanish classes the first week and got acclimated to Central America. I loved it. It was a really amazing experience, and I’m so grateful I got to experience some time there.
Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A: I have a bunch of friends at the University of California at Berkeley, so that’s always a fun drive. Last summer I took five road trips to Berkeley. It’s so beautiful. I like to take the scenic routes and make stops along the way
Q: What are your favorite restaurants?
AI like Seasons 52 (seasons52.com) in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. I also like the Aroma Coffee & Tea (
) in Los Angeles. I used to get the turkey pesto panini and the garlic fries.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A: Sunscreen SPF50 no matter where I go. I carry that around in LA. I’m kind of a weirdo about Krazy Glue. I don’t know why, but I always have it in my purse. I sometimes have a pocketknife with me — not on flights, obviously. Also, sunglasses, a hat and dental floss; I travel light in general and I don’t think I have ever had to check a bag.
Q: What are your five favorite cities?
A: New York; Portland, Ore.; Austin, Texas; Berkeley; San Francisco.
Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been?
A: Chicago. I have friends who go to school there. It’s funny because it wouldn’t be that difficult for me to get there, but I’m actually going to get to India first! I’m going this summer for five weeks and can’t wait. I actually got really interested in traveling to India after studying yoga. I have this wanderlust and don’t like doing things without knowing about the history.
Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
A: Both my best and worst memories are of my time in Nicaragua. The experience as a whole was totally redeeming and amazing. It sounds so cliche, but I don’t care because I’m saying that from the heart. I stayed with a host family and went back to the same kind of rural farming village outside of Managua.
For more from the reporter, visit jaehakim.com.
