Chillin’ With Monique Ganderton

Monique will be seen in X Men: Apocalypse as ‘Death,’ opening on May 27th. She will next be seen on the small screen playing ‘Brenda’ on Lifetime’s hit series “UnReal” opposite Shiri Appleby.

Monique has always had a passion for sports and adventure and has become one of the top stunt doubles in her field most recently doubling for Cara Delvinge in Suicide Squad and for Charlize Theron in The Coldest City. Monique started her career in fashion modeling and hails from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She divides her time between homes in Atlanta, Malibu and Vancouver.

Check out what Monique tells Chilled about her bartending past, her love of all things food and what her dream home bar would look like!

CHILLED: Tell us about the projects you have coming up.

Monique Ganderton: I am currently playing a role on Unreal – A great TV show on Lifetime! It’s so great to book a show like this with such great writing and characters! I’m so excited! I also play a very cool role in X Men: Apocalypse, which is at the end of May! Last month I wrapped a long run in Budapest on The Coldest City, as Charlize Theron’s stunt double as well as Assistant Stunt Coordinator with my partner in life Sam Hargrave who was Stunt Coordinating. I’ve been happily busy!

CHILLED: With your busy schedule, what do you like to do with your down time?

MG: My down time is spent at one of our mini ranches. We have one in Malibu and in Georgia. Sam and I have three rescue dogs, two found cats and three horses! And a lot of chickens! I love chickens. So, we ride, and I homestead and garden and work on the land. I stay just as busy in that world!

CHILLED: When you go out to eat, where do you like to dine?

MG: I love food!!! I love seafood when I am in Vancouver. Rodney’s Oyster bar and Anna Lena are some of my faves. Also Quattro for pasta! Sam and I love the tiny Italian place Locanda Positano in Marina Del Rey. In Malibu I just love the happy hour at The Sunset or sushi at Nobu when I treat myself. In Georgia we go to a quiet steakhouse BLT or Umi sushi!

CHILLED: What types of dishes do you usually order?

MG: In Vancouver I love the Wild Salmon, Wild tuna and local Dungeness crab! I love sushi, I love unique dishes that aren’t too heavy. I try to stay away from sugar and cream.

CHILLED: Do you cook?

MG: I love to cook! I am always experimenting with breakfast smoothies and whatever I have in the house. I love to BBQ and my favorite is a good ole beer can chicken with spices! You put on the grill – an hour later you have the best meal!

CHILLED: What types of drinks do you order when out?

MG: I love wine! I just worked in Budapest and I was so impressed with the wine there. It’s a secret wine haven! Every once in a while I will enjoy a Belgium beer. But you have to be careful since my favorite one, The Gulden Drak, is 10.5 percent!

CHILLED: Do you prepare drinks at home?

MG: In the summer I will do a fun wine spritzer with fruit. I always freeze fruit for my breakfast smoothies so they are ready to go for cocktail hour if need be! Grapes, strawberries or grapefruit, or I will make a blended fruit smoothie and add some Tequila!

CHILLED: Do you own a home bar?

MG: We have a pool in Georgia that’s in need of renovations and I have plans for an outdoor kitchen and entertainment area! It’s the goal!

CHILLED: What do you have now?

MG: Our mini Fridge has a collection of low sugar Ciders, Belgium beers and Prosecco!

CHILLED: What will your new home bar be like?

MG: My perfect bar would be outside as part of the outdoor kitchen next to the pool. There would be a huge prep counter with stools, wine fridge and beer fridge and an outdoor fireplace and pizza oven! I am Canadian so I love to hang outside all year round!

CHILLED: What is your favorite drink/cocktail?

MG: I love a prosecco and a red like a Primitivo or Bordeaux. It all depends on the mood of course. Sometimes I just feel like a dirty Vodka Martini!

CHILLED: Have you ever been a bartender?

MG: I have, but I wasn’t very good! I mostly drank beer at that time so I didn’t have the knowledge or appreciation for any wine or complex mixed drinks! But I love to tell a bartender to make me anything that isn’t sweet and see what they come up with! There are a lot of artists out there!