Celebrity Travel: Go away with McKinley Freeman
After growing up in the college town of Champaign, Illinois, “Reasonable Doubt” actor McKinley Freeman didn’t get homesick when he attended college. He chose to study finance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Growing up in Champaign was cool,” said the actor, who’s now based out of Los Angeles. “I still keep in touch with a lot of folks who I've known from there for a very long time. [I enjoyed] being able to experience both parts of Champaign – the school and the town.”
Freeman, who portrays Lewis on the Hulu series, stays in touch with fans on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mckinleyfreeman) and X (https://x.com/mckinleyfreeman).
Q: Many fans view you as a role model for African-American men. Did the lack of positive representation in the media affect you when you were growing up?
A: There was no version of media that could convince me or my sisters differently about the value of who we were, as defined by the examples we were blessed to see in our parents, grandparents and cousins. Having the courage to tell truthful points of view is important in storytelling, but having the courage to know and be who you are [is just as important].
Q: Is “Reasonable Doubt” filmed on set or on location?
A: A combination of both, which is cool.
Q: Do you have a preference of working on one or the other?
A: Working is the point for myself and countless other performers in the entertainment industry. I’m happy to have a job that creatively inspires me. Where I have to be for it doesn't matter to me.
Q: But if you could pick a location to film a project at, where would it be?
A: Hawaii would be cool, but sincerely anywhere.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: Champaign and Hawaii. I really love Hawaii, especially the North Shore. I’d love to explore the other islands in time.
Q: What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?
A: We are all doing different versions of the same thing everywhere, and that no human being likes traffic or cold French fries. [Laughs]
Q: If you could only pick one place to eat, would you prefer a food truck or fine dining?
A: Food truck 100/100. I’d rather be outside. Food truck, meteor shower, live music. Come on...
Q: Do you have a knack for picking up new languages?
A: I’m working on it. I took Spanish ages ago and have been focused on speaking more daily. Even during the course of “Reasonable Doubt” with the number of Spanish-speaking cast and crew, it was an awesome way to connect with someone conversationally in their native language.
Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A: Several countries in Africa, Japan, Colombia, Brazil and China.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?
A: I always look up the best food in whatever city and I’ll go try it. [Laughs] If it sucks, I toss it and keep it moving. If it’s great, I’ll be back!
Q: What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?
A: Because the jiu jitsu community is so big, I always try to sort a path to possibly training wherever I go. That, and to find a good place for an acai bowl or juice place and a farmers market.
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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.
(c) 2025 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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