culture shock / television SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR Sofi a Dickens

The Swedish-born TV-personality Sofi a Dickens offers her views on summer, Swedish culture, looks and staying in shape. She’s reported on the presidential election, graced the sideline of the Superbowl, and covered the late Pope John Paul II’s funeral in the Vatican City. Now Sofi a Dickens – formerly Lidskog – is looking for her next challenge.

PHOTOGRAPHY: HENRIK OLUND HENRIK PHOTOGRAPHY: Dickens became a familiar face as host of in the breeze and little summer cottages rep- weights and cardio (she loves tae-bo). She also “Channel One News,” a national entertain- resent the Swedish image to her. She misses enjoys playing tennis and golf with her hus- ment and news show with eight million view- having a good midsummer party to look for- band. She says she doesn’t have any favorite ers that airs daily in middle- and high schools ward to where she lives in Newport Beach, skin products, but stays out of the sun as much across the country, and as a Jeopardy! video Calif. She did go to one such party there, but as possible, always wearing a factor 45 sun correspondent. it wasn’t quite the same. block, much to her friends’ amusement. She recently hired new representation and Another important difference in the two On the road Dickens always brings along is currently meeting with networks all over cultures, Dickens says, is that Swedes enjoy a bag of blue corn chips and carrot sticks to Los Angeles to fi nd the right opportunity. simple pleasures, while Americans often go snack on. She’s careful about what she eats “I’m ready to go and there are a couple of for what’s more luxurious and excessive. She and avoids sugar and carbohydrates as much things that I might know more about even by respects that aspect of Swedish culture – that as possible. “There isn’t much I don’t eat, I just next week,” Dickens says. Her agent is moving simple things like lingonberry juice and cinna- try to keep the quantity down,” she explains. quickly and the days ahead are fully booked mon rolls can make you happy. Even when it She enjoys exotic foods in moderation and with meetings. She looks cool and relaxed, comes to possessions, Swedes are more mini- doesn’t follow any particular diet. and her eyes sparkle with excitement as she malist and everything is a little less compli- Dickens loves to read, especially about pol- ponders the possibilities. cated; there is less to choose from over all, and itics, and recently fi nished “Founding Brothers: Her confi dence in fi nding the right future that’s a good thing, she thinks. The Revolutionary Generation,” by Joseph J. endeavor may come from the fact that she’s Her husband Reed, whom she married Ellis. Reading it, she realized that the struggle following in the footsteps of household names last October, knows that Swedish food has to agree among the founders of the country such as Anderson Cooper of CNN, Lisa Ling to be part of their life, and several trips to centuries ago continues even in today’s poli- of National Geographic, and Maria Meneunos IKEA a month to pick up meatballs and other tics, where opposing sides still have differing of the NBC “Today Show,” all of whom had must-haves is proof of that. At their wedding, visions on how things should be run. She fi nds her job at Channel One before her. which took place in Reed’s native Louisiana, it exciting to get to tackle issues from a cul- guests were treated to a traditional Swedish tural, religious and political side, all of which TRULY SWEDISH-AMERICAN “princess cake,” made from scratch – including interest her deeply. Born in Sweden, Dickens came to the United the marzipan – by a local woman who fol- Thanks to her experience working on States before her fi rst birthday, and the Lid- lowed a recipe from the restaurant Aquavit in Jeopardy! and Channel One News, Dickens is skog family settled in Concord, Mass. She New York.It was a huge success with the in- able to choose carefully in looking for a new spent her summer between high school and ternational crowd, as well as being Dickens’s show.show. She already has turned down a number college in Sweden playing lacrosse with their personal favorite. of offers that didn’t feel right or didn’t interest national team in the European Championship, her.her. She would like a job where she has some but never lived there otherwise. “My family STAYING IN SHAPE creative input, but it’sit’s also important to her became so Americanized that we never went Spending so much time in front of the camera that she feel passionate about what’what’ss already back,” she explains. requires looking good, and when asked about going on therethere.. “TV is an exciting industry be- Still, she handles the Swedish language any special beauty secrets Dickens answers cause there is a constant fl ow of new program-program- with ease, and keenly feels the difference be- casually, “I think that you look the most beau- ming, so I’m excited about all the possibilitiespossibilities,”,” tween Swedish and American culture. tiful when you’re comfortable with what God she says with a broad smile. “The Swedish culture is so wonderful that gave you.” “For“For now I’dI’d like to stay in California,”California,” she it’s something I carry with me,” she muses. She thinks for a moment and continues: “I says,says, although she’sshe’s also willing to traveltravel the One thing she loves is Swedish summer. work in a really competitive industry, and if world for the right jobjob.. “I’“I’dd love to be a mom “Swedes really go out of their way to enjoy you’re constantly wanting what other people some day.day. I think Newport Beach would be a the summer, since there is not a lot of it. Peo- have, you’ll never be happy.” great place for the kids to live.live. But, then again, ple take the time to relax,” she says. Families She stays in shape by going to a gym close so is the South…” out on their boats, the Swedish fl ag fl apping to her home, where she does a regimen of yoga, ANNA CONNELL

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