Maggie Q

The Designated Survivor star opens up about her badass career and her passion for healthy living.

- Bethany Heitman

OOOH, they have lemon cake with vegan cream cheese frosting—that’s so hard to find! I’m getting a slice of that. You should get a slice of cake and one of their chocolates. I’m determined to show people how good vegan desserts can be.”

That’s what Maggie Q says as we check out the treats at Cocoa V, a vegan pastry shop in New York City. Between her excitement over these sweets, her complete obsession with dogs (on our walk to the shop, the 38-year-old stopped to talk, yes, talk, to two pups on the street), and her warm, friendly appearance (she’s fresh-faced and rocking a gorgeously oversize camel-colored sweater), I’m a little thrown off. This isn’t exactly what I was expecting from an actress who has spent her entire career kicking major ass in action movies like Live Free or Die Hard, Divergent, and Mission: Impossible III. But over cake, peppermint tea, and lots of conversation, Maggie the persona and Maggie the person begin to make sense.