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After playing a lycanthrope on "True Blood," Kelly Overton gets to hunt vampires in the title role of the new Syfy series, "Van Helsing" (which premiers on September 23). Based out of Pasadena, Calif., the actress has also started a jewelry brand called Benevolence LA (http://benevolencela.com/), where the proceeds go toward charitable causes worldwide. Fans may stay in touch with Overton via Twitter (https://twitter.com/iamkellyoverton).

Q. Do you have any trips planned?

A. I plan on visiting Uganda and Kenya soon. I started Benevolence LA with the idea that each piece we design has a story and a charitable mission. There are 660 million people in the world without access to clean water -- many in Africa, so we started there. We're currently funding our third village with clean water and will continue to help in any way we can.

Q. What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?

A. To practice gratitude for the moment. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel so much, and a lot of these places I might never experience again. When you're away from home, it's easier to be in the moment and practice gratitude, since everything is new, but it has helped me to do the same when I'm home.

Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?

A. The first big trip I took was to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. It was magical to me. The memories from that trip made such an impression on me that I always wanted to return. I got the chance in 2009.

Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?

A. I love Kauai, Hawaii. I first went to Kauai in 2007 and again in 2010 and I'm about to head back again (a week after this interview). It's changing a lot as it gets more popular, but compared to the other islands, Kauai feels untouched. Kauai to me is the perfect-sized island. You can drive the whole island in under two hours.

Q. To someone who was going there, what would you recommend that they do during their visit?

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