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Irene Sofia Lucio has played numerous parts that she loved, but the actress said that the character that resonates with her the most is the one she’s currently playing on Broadway. “I come from a long line of immigrants on both sides of my family,” said the New York resident. “Isidora from ‘Liberation’ particularly reminds me of my mom. While the specifics of their past are not the same, they have both experienced exiles, poverty and family tragedies. Yet with all of that adversity, they refuse to get bitter or accept defeat. Rather, they have a buoyant, vibrant, relentless approach to life and they both have a miraculous sense of humor that has helped them weather many storms.” To keep updated on Lucio’s craft, follow her on social media, where her username is @irenesofialucio.

Q: Do you have any upcoming trips planned?

A: I am from Puerto Rico and most of our family lives there. We go to Puerto Rico several times a year, so that will likely be our first stop after the show wraps.

Q: If you've ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?

A: Puerto Rico has the longest winter holiday season in the world. So it is very hard to beat a Puerto Rican Christmas. It is not a white Christmas with hot cocoa and PJs. It's hot, loud and busy. You don't cuddle by a fire, you go out to the beach or to the outdoor market, or to Old San Juan and likely run into live music. I always get back to New York City and need to detox from all the pork and alcohol. But I always fly back to the States feeling full of joy and that irresistible Puerto Rican essence.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: Istanbul! Oh man, for so many reasons. It has it all! It's East and West at the same time. It has a fascinating history and countless sights while remaining a very modern society. It is chaotic, loud and fun, and has a great night life. You can go to an Ottoman palace in the morning, go to a fabulous French bistro for lunch and go shopping in a bazaar all on the same day.

Q: How do you separate work from vacation trips?

A: I try to limit checking emails to once or twice a day while on vacation. As an actor, there's a saying, “Want a job? Plan a vacation.” So you can't fully disconnect while on vacation. There's often a self-tape audition to do. I take a portable tripod to be able to tape from wherever. You never know when your break might come from and it's never going to be at a perfect time.

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

A: Traveling teaches humility and nurtures a sense of wonder about the world. There is no one way to live, eat, worship [or] exist. I've learned to be a gracious guest in a new country – to learn and honor the rules of the new house I'm entering and appreciate it on its own terms.

Q: Do you have a knack for picking up new languages?

A: I do! I grew up speaking English and Spanish in school and in life. I took up French in high school and college and have kept it up. I have always loved to read in different languages. I studied comparative literature at Princeton, because English felt too limiting a concentration in terms of languages to get to read in. And I love trying to learn as many phrases as I can of the language of whatever country I'm visiting.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: San Juan, Istanbul, Paris, Mexico City, Kanazawa [Japan].

Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?

A: Vietnam.

Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?

A: A book, AirPods, walking shoes, jeans, travel guide, notebook, tripod, phone and cute outfits. I like curating my whole wardrobe to wherever I'm going.

Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?

A: Chips. All kinds.

Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?

A: When I was a kid, my family got into a terrible car accident in Mexico. My dad had to pull over and ask for help in a busy street. My mom had a bad injury to her leg and needed to go to a hospital. But I remember a family stopped, helped us get medical help and even took us to their home to keep me and my sister entertained and not [be] scared at the hospital. It was very scary but to this day it is a testament to how amazing that family was to us and how generous people can be.

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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and journalist. You can reach her at www.jaehakim.com, follow her on Instagram and X @goawaywithjae, or read more from her on Substack (jaehakim.substack.com).)

©2025 Jae-Ha Kim. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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