Catch up with Missy's latest press and appearances.
News
August 24, 2010
Rookie Blue - Episode 1.12/1.13 - In Blue/Takedown - Press Release
SEASON FINALE
THE ROOKIE COPS FIND OUT IF THEY'VE MADE THE GRADE, ANDY AND SWAREK GO UNDERCOVER AND PUT THEIR LIVES IN JEOPARDY, ON THE SEASON FINALE OF ABC'S "ROOKIE BLUE"
ABC's "Roookie Blue" concludes the season with a two-hour, two-part telecast, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET). In the first part, "In Blue" (9:00-10:00 p.m.), it's judgment day for the rookies, who soon will learn whether or not they've passed their evaluations and can keep their badges. Before she hears her fate from Staff Sgt. Frank Best, Andy has a harrowing experience involving the suspicious death of an unidentified girl that causes her to consider leaving the force. In the second part, "Takedown" (10:00-11:00 p.m.), when Andy and Chris make an untimely arrest, they unknowingly compromise a major drug bust. Andy steps up, attempting to salvage the operation by going undercover with Swarek, but a critical change in plans puts both of their lives in danger. Back at the station, Dov learns more about his girlfriend than he wanted to know - forcing him to chose between police work and his love life
"Rookie Blue" stars Missy Peregrym as Andy McNally, Gregory Smith as Dov Epstein, Charlotte Sullivan as Gail Peck, Enuka Okuma as Traci Nash, Travis Milne as Chris Diaz, Ben Bass as Sam Swarek and Eric Johnson as Detective Luke Callaghan. Also starring in the series are Melanie Nicholls-King as Noelle Williams, Matt Gordon as Oliver Shaw, Noam Jenkins as Detective Jerry Barber and Lyriq Bent as Frank Best.
Guest starring in "In Blue" is Wendy Crewson as Dana Kennedy, Joanna Douglas as Ashley Kennedy and Max Morrow as Adam. "In Blue" was written by Noelle Carbone and Esta Spalding and directed by John Fawcett.
Guest starring in "Takedown" is Aaron Abrams as Detective Donovan Boyd, Tom McCamus as Angel, Natalie Krill as Edie Larson, Tim Rozon as Gabe and Nicholas Rose as Rick. "Takedown" was written by Ellen Vanstone, Adam Barken and Tassie Cameron and directed by David Wellington.
Summer’s first hit among new scripted series is ABC’s “Rookie Blue,” which follows five newly-minted cops as they struggle to make their way in the make-it-or-break-it world of law enforcement.
Missy Peregrym (“Reaper”) stars as Andy McNally, the child of a former cop who’s too empathetic for her own good. While the show features an ensemble cast — including Gregory Smith (“Everwood”) as Dov Epstein, and newcomers Enuka Okuma as tough but tender Traci Nash, Charlotte Sullivan as politically-minded Gail Peck and Travis Milne as the group’s sweetheart Chris Diaz — most of the show’s stories center on Andy.
“Casting the character of Andy was crucial,” says show creator and executive producer Tassie Cameron. “We wanted someone that people would look up to, not just someone that men would find stunning. Finding a woman who is likable to both men and women is quite hard to find, but Missy is so laid back and funny and real, we knew we had found our Andy right away.
“I think it’s important, even in an ensemble show, to have someone who is the audience’s way in to the world, especially in the first season,” Cameron says.
Andy’s only about an hour into her new gig when she encounters her first crisis: her instincts are sharp, but, boy, is she naive. After entering an empty building to find a gun, she fails to pull her own, and is surprised when a scared suspect brandishes his own weapon at her. Andy begs the suspect, “Please don’t make me shoot you. This is my first day.”
She emerges from the building with the suspect in handcuffs, but her first day could have easily been her last.
Later, Andy promises a victim of domestic abuse that the husband will be locked up for the night and that she will be safe, only to learn the hard way that she has no power to promise anyone anything.
“Andy is vulnerable but she has her strengths,” says Peregrym. “For every pro to Andy, there’s a con. For every good intention, another one goes wrong. She is almost empathetic to a fault. Those kinds of things get her in trouble.”
The plots on the show are drawn from the files of Cameron and her producing partner, Ilana Frank.
“We have worked together on a bunch of different shows,” says Cameron. “And we have talked to all of these different police consultants. They all have these amazing rookie stories that were sad, funny, emotional and hilarious. All of these stories just started to accumulate, and Ilana thought putting them together was the perfect idea for a show.”
Creating a show about police rookies gives the writers an advantage, says Cameron. “We’re writing it as newbies ourselves, so it’s easy to put ourselves in our rookies’ positions.”
Peregrym, 28, a former model and competitive soccer player who hails from Vancouver, is a bit of a reluctant actress. She counts herself lucky, but admits that living out of a suitcase for months while on location can be tough.
“It’s all worth it when you are doing a job that you love. I invest everything I am into the character I am playing, and that sets the tone for the next few months of my life,” she says.
Andy makes her share of mistakes, but she also has guts and street smarts. And it doesn’t take long before the stunning brunette has caught the eye of some of the vets among Toronto’s finest, particularly a charming homicide detective, Luke Callaghan, played by Eric Johnson of “Smallville” fame.
One thing that helped Peregrym settle in to “Rookie Blue’s” Toronto set was forming a fast friendship with cast member Smith, who also grew up in Vancouver.
“Greg and I were the first people to meet before we started filming, and we immediately got along so well,” Peregrym says. “We played basketball together and we’re both incredibly competitive. That immediately translated to our characters, who are always bickering like brother and sister.”
For Smith, Dov is a welcome change of pace from Ephram Brown, the quietly angry character he played on “Everwood.”
“That was a condition for anything new I was going to do,” says Smith, 27.
Dov is someone who’s wanted to be a cop since before he knew what a cop was. “He reminded me of a guy I went to kindergarten with who wanted to be a cop so badly that he used to pull us over in the playground if we were running too fast,” Smith says.
The performance of “Rookie Blue” has impressed ABC executives enough to renew the show for a second season, proving that hot cops in uniform can be as watchable as the hot docs in scrubs on “Grey’s Anatomy.”
“We are telling stories that offer a fresh perspective into this world,” says Cameron.
MISSY PEREGRYM & GREGORY SMITH SING THE 'ROOKIE BLUES'
The new ABC cop drama, Rookie Blue (Airs tonight on ABC), is already a huge Summer hit. In fact, the show has just been picked up for a second season. The show centers around the lives of five rookie cops who have just graduated from the Academy.
While the series has some light comedic moments, the show portrays the very serious dilemmas that police officers must face on a daily basis. We caught up with the stars of Rookie Blue, Missy Peregrym and Gregory Smith and asked them what kind of research they did prior to taking on the roles of police officers.
Missy is a former model who appeared on the latest episode of 'The Kilborn File' (weeknights, 7PM ET on Fox). She's also an actress on the new series 'Rookie Blue.' Excitingly, Missy has also appeared on a bunch of sci-fi shows in the past -- which makes her seem more accessible for those of us nerds who dream of someday going out with a supermodel.
While on the talk show, Missy tells host Craig Kilborn about the time that a make-up artist on a sci-fi series wanted to shave her face. Apparently, the pretty amazingly hot Missy had a "mustache," and so the make-up artist tried to use a razor on her.
Craig Kilborn had this response to Missy's story: "No! Don't shave it! It's gonna grow back fuller!"
Missy Peregrym - 'Rookie Blue' gets second season on ABC
ABC has picked up summer series "Rookie Blue" for a second season just three weeks after its debut.
"Rookie Blue" ranks second on Thursday nights behind Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," ABC says, and was the top-rated summer premiere in more than a year and ABC's highest in nearly six years. "Rookie Blue" has boosted ABC's viewership in the 8 p.m. Thursday hour by 125 percent among adults 18-49.
Missy Peregrym ("Heroes") and Gregory Smith (“Everwood”) star as rookie cops in the drama, which also features Charlotte Sullivan, Enuka Okuma, Travis Milne, ,Ben Bass, Eric Johnson, Matt Gordon, Noam Jenkins and Melanie Nicholls King.
STRENGTHS: Smart, empathetic; wants to make the world a better place—at any cost.
WEAKNESSES: Over-analytical; too trusting; wants to make the world a better place—at any cost.
In the young-cops drama Rookie Blue (airing tonight, 9/8c on ABC), Missy Peregrym plays a wet-behind-the-ears officer trying to make a name for herself on the force. But the 28-year-old actress has already made an impression on TV fans, turning up in such diverse series as Smallville and Life as We Know It. We asked Peregrym for her thoughts on Rookie's Andy McNally and her two other most notable roles, on Heroes and the much-missed Reaper.
Turning Blue "It's a rare thing to have a female lead on a TV show. I was excited to play a character who was more well-rounded. I got to go deeper with Andy," Peregrym says. "She wants to save everybody, but has the hard realization that not everybody wants to be saved."
Heroes and Villains Peregrym inhabited the illusory Candice Wilmer, an agent for the Company with the ability to alter what people thought they were seeing. "I played a much smaller character on that show," Peregrym says, comparing shifty Candice to Blue's heroic Andy. "I was the bad girl, which was a lot of fun. I loved it!"
Don't Fear the Reaper On the CW's comedy Reaper, Peregrym played another Andy—Andi Prendergast, the girlfriend of devilish bounty hunter Sam. The actress says she's still recognized by the show's cultish fans. "When I go to the movies, I'll hear [someone yell], 'Reaper, yeah!' It's always a compliment," she says. "I was working with the three goofiest guys. It was easy to go to work. You just laughed your ass off and then went home!"
Missy Peregrym and Gregory Smith on Donning 'Rookie Blue' Uniforms
Thursday nights at 9 p.m. on ABC are where work, play and love mix. No, I'm not talking about Grey Anatomy. Starting this Thursday, June 24, ABC's Rookie Blue will be taking over for the beleaguered doctors. (Did you see that season finale? They deserve a break!) The Toronto-filmed series, which will premiere simultaneously on ABC and Canada's Global TV, follows five newbie cops, two of whom are played by some familiar TV faces. I recently chatted with Missy Peregrym and Gregory Smith about what it’s like to play police officers, what they think of each other’s characters, his “scandalous” love interest, leaving Reaper and Everwood behind and more while Peregrym and Smith playfully teased each other.
Both of you starred in shows with devoted audiences and great critical response with Reaper and Everwood, but they were prematurely canceled. Were you reluctant at all to sign up for another TV series?
Gregory Smith: Personally, I took quite a while finding the next show that I wanted to work on because it’s such an emotional investment to work on a television show. I wanted to choose a character that I would have fun playing for many, many years, should we be so lucky.
Missy Peregrym: I loved the script so much. You know, pilot season, you read so many pilots for a series. When I read this one, I was very excited about the character. Well, all of them, really. It just was a no-brainer to want to be a part of this project. You sign on for seven years, regardless of whether it goes on that long, so you think far ahead. Really, I'm just grateful that I have a job. Who are we kidding? [Laughs]
Was the idea of playing a cop kind of exciting like living out a fantasy?
Smith: Totally. Basically, we go to work everyday. We put on a uniform and a gun and you just walk around and kickass. It’s awesome. Between takes at lunch, we would go to – There's a little outdoor mall area near where we were shooting. We'd forget we were in our uniforms and we'd go in there to get a coffee and they’d give us everything for free.
Peregrym: [Laughs] But I was honest. I told them I was just an actor.
Smith: No, I never took it because I thought if I took the free coffee, then I would be like obligated to try to do something if somebody tried to rob the place.
You’d have to bust a real criminal.
Peregrym: Yeah. I always thought that I was a badass. Then I realized there's no way I could ever really be a cop. The sacrifices they make are huge and they risk their lives everyday. Plus, I'm just way too emotional. I think I'd cry every five seconds. [Laughs]
Did you have to do any special training or shadow a cop for a day to prepare for the role?
Smith: Yeah. They setup like a three-day police academy that we all went through, which included learning how to use all the different tools, how to clear a building, how to do a traffic stop. Then we also got the real rookie speech that rookies get on their first day from a police officer – a captain – who worked just across the street from us.
Peregrym: Which is incredibly intimidating.
Smith: Also, we always had officers on set with us as technical advisers. Sometimes, even SWAT team guys. It's pretty awesome. We really relate on a lot of levels.
Peregrym: Yeah right.
Who was the best at the training and who was the worst? Tell the truth.
Peregrym: I was probably the best, I think.
Smith: Yeah. She was the best and the worst. It's a relative scale.
Peregrym: [Laughs] I think we all sucked. I think it's really hard to learn anything that they do in three days. When we were on set, I had to handcuff somebody and it took me five minutes just to get the wrists in the right place so I could cuff them. It was embarrassing. I just wanted them to cut the film because I was like, “I'm sorry I'm wasting thousands of dollars here, but I can't get it together.” [Laughs]
Smith: We shot a couple of behind the scenes videos of us – contests to see who could reload their gun the fastest. I think we actually finished in a statistical dead heat.
Peregrym: I don't know. I think that if it was one of those photo finishes, I probably would have won.
Was there anything you were surprised to learn about cops? Something you didn’t realize was true or maybe a common misconception?
Peregrym: It was interesting that women – Of course, it's going to be very different. We're not incredibly threatening. Yeah, we have a gun, but we’re not allowed to just shoot anybody we want to. [To Smith] Like how I'm talking like I’m a cop? I play one on TV. Anyway, I just think it’s interesting that their strengths are their emotions and the fact that they’re vulnerable and they can get anybody to talk. That is a strength in the force. I thought that was a very cool thing to learn.
Smith: I thought it was cool that cops never say, “Freeze.” Common misconception. Just want to clear that up right here, right now. [Peregrym laughs] They say, “Please, don’t move!” because, “Freeze,” can be confused with a lot of things.
Peregrym: Like freezie. [Laughs]
Smith: Thank you, Missy. [Laughs]
Here’s a little challenge: Describe each other’s characters.
Smith: Oh, this is good. Missy – she plays Andy McNally, who is very sort of…
Peregrym: You’re doing terrible right now.
Smith: She dates a lot of guys.
Peregrym: [Laughs] OK, there is a love triangle, but there’s a little bit more to Andy.
Smith: It's like a love pentagon.
Peregrym: [Laughs] Dov is the try-hard. He wants to be the first one on the scene. He wants to win everything, all the time. That includes arresting people. That's a win for him. But he never gets to do anything because he’s always stuck behind the desk. Greg plays the comic relief of the show. It's really a wonderful contrast because there's a lot of situations that I find myself in that are very serious and kind of heavy. I think throughout the entire season, we have storylines that one is serious and then the other one is very light and goofy. We can thank Greg for that.
This is definitely a more lighter role for you, Greg, than say Ephram Brown. Do you enjoy playing this more comedic stuff?
Smith: Yeah. That was essential. That was one of the reasons why I wanted to do it. I couldn't do another sort of darker, emotional, melancholic character. I needed to do something that was a little bit different.
The pilot also introduces Andy's backstory with her father. Are we going to learn more about him and why he’s no longer a cop?
Peregrym: Yeah. I can tell you right now he's an alcoholic. He kind of blew it. I don't come from a very good family. My mother left when I was younger. I basically had to take care of myself, raise myself, but also look out for my dad. It's kind of a complicated storyline with me and him in the series, but it's interesting. It’s good. I think it’s very real.
Andy catches the eye of two detectives [played by Eric Johnson and Ben Bass] on her first day. Is Dov going to get any love?
Smith: Unfortunately, no inter-office love.
Peregrym: But trying.
Smith: Yeah. Not for a lack of trying. He does end up dating a girl later in the season who turns out to be an adult dancer. Very scandalous.
Peregrym: He's such a cliché, right? [Greg laughs]
Missy, I couldn’t help but notice that you’re once again playing a character named Andy. Does that makes the transition from Reaper a little easier?
Peregrym: It was funny because when I met with everybody about the script, they're like, “Of course we’re going to change that.” I said, “Did you notice that one of my love interests is Sam too? That's exactly where I come from.” They’re like, “Yeah, yeah, yeah. We’ll definitely change it.” They didn't. And it’s fine. [Laughs] I think people can put it together that I'm not Andi from Reaper.
Greg, I have to ask – Is there anything you miss about Everwood?
Smith: The people. That was kind of like college for me. It’s sort of the equivalent of asking somebody if they missed their college years. So, of course, you think back on it fondly, but it’s a thing that you’ve moved beyond and you couldn’t really go back to. But I keep in touch with Emily [VanCamp] and Chris Pratt and all the people there that I became very close with and kind of grew up with. I miss them, but I still get to see them.
Interview: Rookie Blue's Missy Peregrym and Gregory Smith
Missy Peregrym and Gregory Smith can’t stop laughing. Sitting in a hotel suite in Toronto, the Rookie Blue stars are having trouble staying serious as they tease each other and crack wise.
“The cast went out to breakfast one time,” Smith remembers, laughing. “And Missy began complaining that she got some pepper stuck on her ‘hangy.’”
…Her what?
“My hangy!” Peregrym exclaims. “You know, the hangy thing at the back of your throat?”
You mean the uvula?
Smith grins triumphantly at his costar. “See? It is called a uvula. ‘Hangy.’ Ha!”
This adversarial rapport almost makes it easy to believe them as rivals on Rookie Blue. On the police drama, Smith and Peregrym play newbie cops, eager to prove that they’re worthy of the uniform – and that they’re better than their fellow rookies.
“We’re all under the fire of who’s going to be respected, who’s going to make it. We don’t want to be rookies! I think there’s competition between us,” says Peregrym.
“It’s human nature; any chance you get to be the best, you take it,” Smith adds, with a mischievous look in his eyes. “So it was really hard for me, always being the best. Being gracious and the best, at the same time, that was a difficult situation.”
Peregrym rolls her eyes. “Because you’re not used to that?”
The 28-year-old actress plays Andy McNally, the beautiful brunette who joins the force looking for the family she never had. After her alcoholic father left the force in disgrace, Andy developed a strong desire to prove herself.
“Andy really wanted this community, and she feels can get it within the police force,” Peregrym says. “She wanted to do better than her family did, and it’s all about saving other people because she always had to save my dad. I think it’s naturally in her to do that.”
Smith’s character, too, has something to prove, but in a completely different way. Despite the uniform, Dov Epstein still has to overcome his asthma and his slight stature, and he compensates with false bravado.
“He wants to get the respect from the criminals and the police. He respects cops so much, so he figures that if he puts the uniform on, they’ll respect him the same way,” explains Smith, 27. “But because he’s a smaller guy and a rookie, he doesn’t get that respect that he feels he deserves right away.”
It’s a different role for Smith, who is best known for playing the sensitive Ephram Brown on the family drama Everwood.
“That show was very introspective and emotional and melancholy. And that was awesome, but it was too taxing, emotionally,” Smith admits. “I knew that if I went back to a television show, it was going to have to be something that totally breaks that mold. One, I’ve already done that and people associate that with me, but two, I wanted a character that would lift me up in my life. So when I found Dov, I was so happy.”
Conversely, Andy is similar to many other characters played by Peregrym, who has made a career out of playing strong women with secret vulnerabilities, from 2002’s Stick It to the CW series Reaper.
“I have a thing with portraying strong women. I like having roles where I’m athletic as well as deep,” she says. “This was the first character where I’ve really gotten to explore that; everything else has been cut off at a certain point because there’s no time to get into the background of it. [Rookie Blue] has been the biggest challenge and the most fun for me.”
But both Peregrym and Smith – and Rookie Blue itself – must overcome the challenge of distinguishing itself from other police dramas on television, of which there are many. Neither actor is worried, though, because they think Rookie Blue takes a different tack than usual.
“A lot of the cop shows are very procedural, and everything is about the adults knowing exactly what to do. They know who they are and they know where they want to go. But our characters are adolescents, practically,” Peregrym explains. “We think we know who we are and what’s going to happen, but reality comes in and we have to navigate ourselves and our crazy circumstances. You’re not catching us at a time of success; you’re seeing us at the bottom.”
Adds Smith: “It’s an exploration of that point that everyone experiences, where the naïveté of youth collides with the reality of the future, when you realize that things might not go exactly as you thought. You might not be the president or go to the moon, but you’ll make the best with what you’ve got and you’ll hopefully make a difference.”
“Well, you won’t,” Peregrym snarks.
Smith snorts back at his costar. “I’ll make more of a difference than you will.”
Q&A: Rookie Blue's Missy Peregrym and Gregory Smith
Rookie Blue is the new kid on the TV block. Premiering tonight on Global TV and ABC, the one-hour show deals with issues like pedophilia, domestic violence and prostitution through the eyes of five cops fresh out of the academy. Likened to Grey’s Anatomy, the pilot ranked in the Top 3 in a series of test screenings and the cast’s gleaming enthusiasm shows it.
The Post’s Liem Vu spoke to lead stars Missy Peregrym (Andy McNally) and Gregory Smith (Dov Epstein) who revealed that playing a rookie is not as easy as it seems.
Q: How did you prepare for the role of a rookie?
Missy We had three days of training. They had officers come in to teach us the main things like how to hold a gun and how to handcuff people which none of us ever got the hang of at all. They had someone on the set all the time to take us through how to approach the scenes so we didn’t look too stupid. We were allowed to be rookies but we had to know some stuff because we’re supposed to be coming from five months of training.
Q: Since you aren’t really cops, I imagine playing a rookie helped.
Gregory In the pilot, Missy’s talking on the radio and trying to put her gun away. She keeps missing her holster and that was not scripted. The journey of being a new actor starting the show really paralleled each other and I think it really helped a lot.
Q: What can you do now that you couldn’t before?
Gregory I learned a bunch of cool takedowns and how to disarm somebody if I’m in a nightclub and some guy wants to beat me up. I was walking in Toronto one time and I was talking to this guy who went to the academy. He was like, “dude, show me your take down” and I was like whoopah. I took him down right on King West and he was twice my size.
Q: So you can put on handcuffs now, right?
Missy You can’t, though. It’s so hard to do because…you can totally dislocate someone’s shoulders by putting them on wrong. You pinch your fingers in it, you put it on backwards and you can’t get them off because the keys are jammed. It’s actually way more complicated than it looks.
Q: Canadian shows often get a bad rep in comparison to American ones. How does Rookie Blue stand amongst the other shows out there?
Missy: This is the first Canadian show I’ve done and I think this was one of the best shows I’ve worked on. It just comes down to the people and we had such an amazing team behind us. The actors on the show are so incredible and sincere in their performances that I don’t think we’re any less than any other show in America. I feel like we’ve really stepped up. I really do feel like this show should be up there with every other show.
Today’s TV Addict Top 5: Questions with ROOKIE BLUE Star Missy Peregrym
As someone who was somewhat disappointed with the CW’s treatment of REAPER, I’m curious as to what it was like to work on a show that had virtually zero network support or promotion. Missy Peregrym: Because we had such a good time making the show in Vancouver, it didn’t really matter. In fact, I was surprised we had as many fans as we did, as we didn’t really fit in with the kind of shows that were on the network at the time. I guess when you do this long enough, you realize you can be canceled at any time anyways, so you’re just grateful to get whatever you can out of it.
What attracted you to ROOKIE BLUE? Outside of a couple of commercials when I first started out, I really hadn’t done anything in Canada so I was very excited to come to Toronto and film the show. Also, I loved the script so much when I read it, and after meeting the producers, I was sold on it completely. I was so excited about what their ideas were for the show and where they wanted to take it. It’s been amazing and such a cool collaboration where everybody who is on the show really understands their character, so it’s a lot of fun to work on. I’m so grateful for it and am really proud of it.
Do you feel that the elevator pitch that is GREY’S ANATOMY with Cops is an accurate assessment of the show? The only way I can relate our show to GREY’S ANATOMY, having only seen one or two episodes myself, is that they’re both very character driven and not incredibly procedural. There are five rookie cops and their training officers, and we really focus more on the relationships and the pressure involved with training for something where you’re never actually prepared for the real-life situations until they happen. The character driven nature of the show, not the code talk was what I was more interested in and why I was really attracted to this series.
What can you tell us about your character of Andy McNally? Andy comes from a family of cops. Unfortunately her father didn’t exactly handle the pressure in the best way, which was one of the motivations for her joining the force. She wants to redeem her father’s name. Also, she’s just a really good person with great intentions. Things don’t always work out for her, but she wants to do good thing, wants justice and wants to protect people.
Coming off supporting roles on HEROES and REAPER are you finding there is any added pressure now that you’re essentially the face of ROOKIE BLUE? In terms of REAPER, I was hardly in it and it was the easiest job for me. I loved it because I was at home, but you know I was ready to take on a role that was well-rounded, where there was a lot going on besides me just being the girlfriend and the relationship aspect of the show. This is a huge deal for me and I’m so excited to be playing a character that has so much going on. It’s a lot of work and really exhausting because it’s hard to come in everyday with so much on your plate. But as for the whether or not I feel pressure if the show’s going to fail because I’m the lead? [Laughs] Maybe, I have no idea! But I don’t feel that I’m the lead and everything revolves around me. It’s the “Rookies,” we all have our story-lines and it’s a total team effort to make this show, it’s not just me at all. I don’t feel that pressure and it’s none of my business to even worry about that. We’re all here to do our job, act and play the scenes the best that we can. Everything else is up to the network and the public and what they’re looking for in a show.
Pilot season in Hollywood can be a series of crushing rejections - which is why Missy Peregrym would rather avoid going through it again.
If viewers take to her new series “Rookie Blue” (tonight at 9 on WCVB, Ch. 5), Peregrym, who plays a young police officer fresh out of the academy, won’t have to worry about getting kicked around again.
“I had gone through a rough pilot season testing for shows,” the 28-year-old actress told the Herald in a recent telephone interview from Toronto.
“It would always come down to me and one other girl, and I wouldn’t get it. I had just come off of ‘Reaper,’ so it was the first time I was available to do pilot season. I never want to do it again. It’s so stressful. Imagine doing an interview that could change your life three times a day. It doesn’t suit me.”
Shortly after the humbling experience, Peregrym met with the creators of “Rookie Blue,” which was known as “Coppers” at the time.
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“I loved all of them,” she said. “They knew exactly what they wanted the show to be.”
The series follows five rookies (no shocker there) from their first day on the streets. Peregrym plays Andy McNally, a born rescuer whose father was a cop.
“I’m a A-type personality and I always want to save everybody,” the actress said, describing the similarities between herself and her character. “I like to take things that are broken and restore them to their true glory. That’s very much Andy McNally. But (she starts) to realize people don’t always want to be saved.”
Peregrym is quick to differentiate “Rookie Blue” from other cop shows.
“It’s not a procedural,” she said. “It’s very much character-driven. This is more about kids who want to make a difference. They start the job, think they know everything and want to change the world. They they’re hit hard with the reality that there is no black-and-white. There’s a lot of gray area.”
A self-described tomboy growing up in Vancouver, Canada, she spent her days playing sports with her male friends.
“I grew up with the guys, playing sports with them or goofing off,” she said, then laughed. “But I like the womanly qualities I’ve grown into now. It kind of happens naturally when you grow boobs. Guys don’t want to be just friends anymore.”
Peregrym is able to put her athleticism to good use on the streets of, well, an unnamed city somewhere in either Canada or the United States.
“It’s not really set anywhere in particular,” she said. “It’s not like we’re hiding where we are, though. The uniforms are a hybrid of American and Canadian - we’re metro police.”
'Rookie Blue' Set Visit: This Is Not Your Average Cop Show
Trying to decide which shows will make it into your summer couch potato sessions? You may want to consider 'Rookie Blue', a new cop show being billed as the 'Grey's Anatomy' for the 5-0. The show follows five rookie officers as they struggle to learn the ins and outs of what it takes to be a cop in the big city. Naturally, emotions run high and sexual tensions mount.
We stopped by the 'Rookie Blue' set, located in a non-descript warehouse on the eastern outskirts of Toronto's downtown core, to scope things out. We found lots of cops (both actors and the real deal) and rat traps big enough to house a family of raccoons. We also tracked down two of the show's stars: Missy Peregrym ('Reaper', 'Heroes'), who plays super-keener Andy McNally, and Gregory Smith ('Everwood'), who plays the wise-cracking thrill-seeker Dov Epstein. The stars filled us in on everything you need to know about 'Rookie Blue'.
This Isn't Your Average Cop Show
You're probably thinking, 'That's just what the world needs. Another cop show.' But before you write off 'Rookie Blue', consider this: The show isn't just another whodunit. "The show is very character-driven," says Peregrym. "This could be procedural, but it's not. It's really about the relationships." Besides, the main character is a woman, which definitely goes against the typical cop-show grain.
These Cops Mess Up. A Lot
Don't expect to see any smooth Caruso-type moves on 'Rookie Blue'. Well, not from the rookies, anyway. "You see all of the ways rookies can mess up. Like pulling a gun out and getting it stuck in the holster," says Smith, adding that his character tends to get into more binds than the others. "He's very smart and capable, but excitement sometimes clouds his judgment."
Workplace Hook-Ups Are Taboo for the Rookies
"Rookies are never supposed to date their training officers," explains Peregrym. "And you cannot date someone who's more than two rankings above you." Since the rookies are all working with different training officers, they don't have a lot of one-on-one time with each other to enable rookie-on-rookie hook-ups (rook-ups?).
Workplace Hook-Ups Will Probably Happen Anyway
Peregrym is coy about whether anyone breaks the rules. But really, how could they not? "Regardless of the rule, it's difficult not to feel a connection with your training officer," she says. Besides, this is TV. Everybody will surely hook up with everybody, right? Peregrym does reveal that her character winds up being torn between two different love interests, but that's all she'll say.
Gregory Smith Doesn't Just Play Sad Guys
Viewers who only know Smith from his role as the brooding Ephram Brown on 'Everwood' are in for a big surprise. "On 'Everwood', my character was a bit melancholy," he says. "This character is more fun and extroverted. When I first read the script, the character cracked me up. I got him. I could complete his sentences."
The Cast Was Trained by Real Cops
"We learned things like how to take down a person and how to draw a weapon," says Peregrym. "It's complicated." The actors also learned about all of the little things cops do. For example, they have a certain stance, and they're constantly aware of their surroundings. "They're always writing everything down," says Smith. "The more I learned, I realized the less I knew."
No Humans Were Harmed During the Filming of 'Rookie Blue'
As of our visit, anyway. "No pranks, no mishaps, no deaths," reports Smith. His biggest fear wasn't of stunt-related injuries, but rather of contracting swine flu [H1N1]. "I'm a hypochondriac. I go through a lot of hand sanitizer," he says.
The Show Was Originally Called 'Copper'
But alas, too many people thought it was about the chemical element, not cops. (OK, we totally made up that explanation. But doesn't it sound like it could be true?)
'Rookie Blue' star Missy Peregrym looking to be more than just a pretty face in the business
Missy Peregrym, the star of ABC's new cop drama "Rookie Blue," says there are many times she's considered walking away from the business.
"I've threatened to quit this so many times," she says.
The challenge, she says, is being an actress and deciding what roles to take or not, and not always having to fall back on sexy to succeed.
"I can't sell myself to Maxim," she says, "and turn and tell a young girl you don't have to dress that way to make it."
Peregrym started out as a model, and her swimsuit shots have found many fans online.
"It's not about being in lingerie and talking about sex in an interview," she says.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with being beautiful," she adds. "I'm not saying hide that, I'm saying do it in a tasteful way, not just sexual and baring my body."
So she looks for work in movies and TV that is different from simply being a pretty face. Today, she despises a role she took in 2004, playing a hooker in a TV movie about madam Heidi Fleiss.
"I still hate it so much," she says. "I just don't feel that's the route I want to take."
In "Rookie Blue," Peregrym is in the lead role of a drama about a new crew of cops on the beat.
The show finished production in December and had been targeted for a midseason slot. However, it was held back and now will launch Thursday at 9 p.m., in the slot that normally has "Grey's Anatomy." The show also stars Gregory Smith, Charlotte Sullivan, Enuka Okuma, Travis Milne, Ben Bass and Eric Johnson.
"I thought it could go anywhere with endless possibilities," she says of the show. "After I met with the team - the producers and the writers - I fell in love with it even more. Everyone had the same vision for the show."
It's Peregrym's first lead series role, though she's no stranger to television. She spent two seasons on CW's "Reaper," was in NBC's "Heroes" and starred in the film "Stick It."
Though the delay in getting on the air has been frustrating, she's grateful for having a good time period, something that probably would not have happened during the season.
"It would be devastating if we didn't go back for a second season," she says.
"If I didn't get the opportunity to go back, it would be really hard to let go and do something else."
But that's part of the television game, she admits.
"I love being settled," she says. "I'm the worst person to be in this job."
Starting out, she says she had confidence issues, too. "It was hard for me to find my place here," she says.
She then started getting mail from young girls who said her work in the film "Stick It" got them into gymnastics, or about other roles that helped inspire them, and more importantly, respect themselves.
"I feel like there's a lot of influence on the other side of things, and not enough on the positive side," she says. "If I can do that, it's worth it."
Missy Peregrym of 'Rookie Blue' Doesn't Want to Be Famous
You never know when a simple statemetn can lead down an interesting path in an interview. When Missy Peregrym, who stars in the new ABC summer cop show 'Rookie Blue,' called me directly to do our interview last week, I told her that I was a bit surprised she didn't go through a publicist, like the vast majority of the people I interview choose to do.
She joked that she'll do that when she's "really famous" then said she was kidding. Then she told me that in reality, "I just don't want to be famous. I feel like there's a lot of sacrifice in that I'm not really willing to make."
What follows is a refreshingly honest interview from the down-to-earth Peregrym, who grew up in British Columbia being taught always to be herself by her parents (her father is a minister). The lesson has helped her since a modeling career led her to Hollywood eight years ago, and she landed the starring role in the short-lived WB series 'Black Sash.'
Peregrym and I talked about what she's learned in her time in showbiz, how much she loves her 'Rookie Blue' character Andy McNally, and how the comparisons to 'Grey's Anatomy' are fairly accurate. We also talked a little bit about 'Reaper,' where she played Andi, Sam's on-again, off-again girlfriend. Let's just say she doesn't think the CW had much invested in promoting the show. Our talk, and some clips, after the jump.
'Rookie Blue' debuts Thursday, June 24, at 9PM ET on ABC.
I almost never expect someone to call me directly. It's always their PR rep or something like that. Oh really? No, it's just easier this way.
I think so too, but you know, that's ... you're one of the few. Well maybe one day when I'm really really famous, then I can pull that kinda stuff. (laughs) I'm just kidding.
It'll be good for you, since you'll be famous. No, that's not true. That's the last thing I want.
What, to be famous? Yes. No, I just don't want to be famous. I feel like there's a lot of sacrifice in that I'm not really willing to make.
What's the sacrifice you're not willing to make? You just don't get to ... you know, it's a weird thing I struggle with anyway. I think it's always difficult, because people say things about you regardless. That's one of my hardest lessons getting into this, because I was raised in a home of integrity and character, and all these wonderful things, and then I tried very hard to make sure that I came across the way that I am, and it just didn't even matter.
All of a sudden, people are like forwarding these blogs and all this stuff, and I'm going, what??? I was never like that! I've never done that! I'd never say that! And so it killed me at first. And then I was like, ok, you know what? I guess it just doesn't matter. I think that's why you have to have strong skin to be in this industry. You know, you have to ... my dad always says, you know, you don't take criticism to your heart, and don't let flattery go to your head. Because it's just so... it's a fine line.
Your dad's a minister, right? I read up on your IMDb profile a little bit, which looks like it was written by your sister, by the way. Oh really?
It said "mini-profile written by Lori Peregrym..." I don't even know who that is. IMDb is kind of weird, because people can put things on there, but then I can't change it. I actually haven't even gone on my profile for a really long time, so I don't even know what's on there. But that's happened before. I mean, I have Facebook things where other family members are connected to, and it gets me in trouble, because they think I'm talking back to them, and it's not me who's doing it.
But your dad was a minister ... that part's accurate, right? Yes, that part is true. Yes.
When he found out that you wanted to become an actor, was he at all concerned? Was he thinking that it could lead down a path where you might have problems? Was your family all behind it? They were incredibly behind it. I don't think anybody planned for me to be an actor. I didn't. I didn't know this was what I was going to do. It was opportunity after opportunity, and we kind of just went through the journey together. I know that he definitely got flack for me being an actress from some people. And also the church was upset that I was on this one TV show, 'Life As We Know It.' Because they thought it was just promoting sex, when that wasn't even the point and they hadn't even seen the program.
But you know, they were just so quick to say that it's a terrible thing that I'm doing. I've had people, when I first start going, you know, I was going to Hollywood, so that was it for me. I was going to have an eating disorder and drug problem now. I was going to change who I was. And that's just not how I've been raised. I mean, even in the church, it was never about conforming and being like everybody else, it was about being who I really was, and being me.
And my Dad just said, wherever you go, you know, know what to trust, just have character, have integrity, have the qualities that we've instilled in you. And I think my parents worked very hard to do that with us when we were younger because they knew that when we're older, that's it. They've had their chance to have their opinion, and now we're adults and we get to go where we're going to go. So it's been a journey.
Now that you've been in the business for a while, have you seen how these lessons have helped you out? Well I felt like I shouldn't be here, actually. When I first got to L.A., I was shocked at how business was done, and how people ... it's like everything I was told not to fall for, I was surrounded by. And it was very difficult for me, because I just didn't like the industry at all. I didn't like that you go to parties and everybody's trying to look a certain way, and it was all like ego and who knows who and what do you do? And I was just like oh, well you obviously don't care to really get to know me, it's all about how I can help you.
And I just was never raised that way, and that really kind of bothered me, and it made me very shy when I first started doing publicity, because I never wanted to look beautiful. I never wanted to wear dresses and to do the shoulder turn on the carpet, which I still have an issue with, because I feel really dorky. But I just didn't want to be compared to all those people because I didn't want people to just put me in that group. "Oh she's an actress, oh she's on the red carpet, oh she dresses like that, she's trying to..." I just saw underneath all of that, and I didn't want to be put there with that.
And it was hard for me. I feel like I went too far the other way. You know, I wanted to go on the red carpet with a baseball cap, t-shirt, and jeans. And I still do. Because that's really who I am. But you know, I just realized that I wasn't allowing myself to be the full person that I am, because you know, just as much as I didn't want them to judge me, I was assuming they were going to judge me and putting myself, I was keeping myself hidden as much as possible. Was there any particular incident you'd want to mention that like gave you that thought, like oh my God, I'm really going to have to be on my toes to not lose myself? Well, every time I do that, I go home. There've been moments where I just was tired of being in L.A. It was very difficult. I mean, you're constantly rejected. And that's OK, it's just really frustrating for me, because I try to read scripts and projects that have really great, deeper, meaningful qualities to them. It's not just for a laugh, or for shock, it's something deeper than that. And it was very hard to find that. It's hard to find characters for women that weren't just the girlfriends, you know? And just kind of like the pretty face in the thing. I wanted something deeper than that.
And I have to say that 'Stick It' was really important for me, and the same way, 'Rookie Blue' is huge for me. Because this is the first time I'm able to get into a character where she is so real and vulnerable, and does not have it all together, but her intentions are good, and she knows who she wants to be, it's just confusing on how to get there now because life is not black and white, it's gray. And that happens in life anyway.
'Rookie Blue' is the first serious adult role I've seen you in. When the role came to you, what stood out about it? Was it because it was a cop show? Well, it's really not that. I think that's what I liked about it. Policing is just the backdrop for these characters' lives, and how they find themselves. But I really feel like (my character) Andy, first of all, the fact that I was a lead in that, and it was already focusing on her backstory more, and she wasn't just a girlfriend, was very interesting to me, and I loved that.
And second, I felt it was just like a really good, clean project, and it could go anywhere. Because you only ever read the pilot for a series, and you have to sign on for years, if you're going to do it. So it's a big decision. And after I met with, you know, the creators and David Wellington, who directed five of them, and some of the producers, I really, they were all on the same page. We were finishing each others' sentences as to who this character should be, and where they wanted to go with her.
So this time, I really felt like it was going to be more of a collaboration, and that's exactly what it turned out to be. And it just ended up being even better than I thought because of who they cast in the show. And because we filmed in Toronto, and this is really a Canadian show first, and ABC, it's amazing that they agreed to air the show. And now it's more of a collaboration with them too.
Does this show take place in Toronto, or just "large North American city?" It supposed, we don't actually say Toronto, but it's kind of obvious. I mean, even our uniforms are a mix between the American and Canadian uniform and our badges, Metropolitan Police. But you know, you'll see signs that are in kilometers and you see the CN tower. It's not hiding it at all, but it's kind of a perfect backdrop, because Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world, I mean, in terms of culture and area and everything it has to offer, there's so much to pull from. So it's kind of nice to see that we're not, you know, I'm used to being in Vancouver, but we're really in Seattle. The one thing about the character of Andy that I did find interesting is that, now of course, we know a lot about her back story by the end of the pilot. Was that a pleasant surprise for you? Yeah. I really liked that, actually. And I felt that there was a long way to go for that. And it was interesting to me because, you know, even though I came from a very different family than that, her issues are still the same. She and I actually have a lot in common. Perfectionist, Type A personality, likes to have everything organized, and incredibly empathetic.
So you know, when you're crying, I'm crying with you. If you're gonna laugh, I'm gonna laugh with you. I'm a pretty serious person and the fact is, we both like to save people. You know, we both like to restore things to its true glory. And she had that with her father, because he was an alcoholic and her mother had left. So she basically was just kind of raising herself and keeping that family thing together. And the hard lesson for her is to realize that not everybody wants to be saved. And it's so difficult when you love them so much, and they just don't want to make the changes necessary. And it's a very tough lesson to learn.
And she also has to deal with the fact that her dad was also a cop that burned out on the job, right? Has a bad name. Yes. He walked out and left kind of a bad name. And it's a little bit embarrassing for me that I'm coming in there and it's my first day and I'm totally nervous, but people already have an idea of me because of him. But at the same time, I think I want to restore that for him. I think I want to say, you know, yeah, my dad did that, but I don't have to be like that. There was a show that ABC did last year called 'The Deep End,' and everybody called it 'Grey's Anatomy' in a law firm. Does your show have that vibe? First of all, I saw a few episodes of 'The Deep End,' and I think that show, that show was sexy. I don't think our show is as sexy as that. Because it's more, there's more vulnerability, and I think that comparing the two, that we are ... there's more on the line. It's life or death situations. And so, it's just the stakes are higher. Also, we are not a procedural cop show at all. It's more, that's why they compare it to 'Grey's Anatomy' as well, is because it's more about the relationships and you take the circumstances and situations, and it's more about how it affects our personal lives, and if we have what it takes to be there. We all are there for very good reasons.
So you've heard the 'Grey's' comparisons? Yes. And that's what everybody is saying, and it's just kind of funny that now we have their time slot this summer. So this is great.
So do you think the comparison's fair at all? I do. I do. I mean, we're stuck in serious situations and there is a part of the job that is incredibly featured, but again, it comes down to the characters. Even with my character, it's very difficult because I have a history of kind of self-sabotaging myself with relationships, and I choose people that are kind of like my father. And it's my saving issue that I have with him that I try to do with other people, and so I kind of put myself in the same kind of relationship thing. And you know, it's tough, because I want the family so bad. And I feel like I can get it in this police force.
And when I get there, you know, you're not allowed to date your training officer. You'll lose your job. However, when you're going through extreme circumstances, and it's life or death, and you actually get through that because of the partnership that you have, naturally you're going to bond with that person. It's always confusing, and it always looks a bit murky. And so that's kind of how we get through these situations.
I have another love interest, obviously, Detective Luke, and I'm allowed to date him, and that's totally fine, except he is so much more career-driven. So every time I'm going through these situations, I'm in it first, and then he just comes to the scene afterwards, and that's where his interest is in. And then he doesn't make himself available to me to really care for me in that traumatic time.
And Luke's the Homicide officer? Yes, that's right.
And I guess the other love interest would be... The guy that I busted (in the pilot).
Because you said training officer in the pilot was someone different. Sorry. I keep forgetting that I had a different one in the pilot. I was with Matt Gordon. But yes, yeah, it is the cop that I busted. While you were talking about your dad earlier, a question came to mind about roles. What did your family think about 'Reaper,' where you played the girlfriend of a guy who works for the Devil? Yeah. I called my dad, and I was like, "You're gonna kill me." (laughs) And he's like, what??? And I was like "Ok, remember when we got so much flack last time? Well now I'm on a show that it's with a devil." And I actually expected more stuff to come up, and I don't think it did. And if it did, he didn't tell me anything about it anyway.
It's not like I'm talking about 'Reaper' and going "You guys, you know, don't go to church anymore because our show provides a lot of really good knowledge." I mean, it's not what it is. It's such a, it's a comedic show, and it was more witty and funny, and Ray Wise was amazing in that role. He did that so well. And it was good. I mean, it still had the battle of good and evil, but again, it had everything to do with, you know, what are you going to choose to do.
What was your impression about how that final season went down and the CW's support or lack of support was for the show? Well, I don't really feel like we were the show that they were trying to promote at that point. I mean, it was very much (a) 'Melrose Place,' '90210' (network), and our show did not have that kind genre to it. It's just incredibly different. So I think ours was more of a risk to promote, and I know that they were in a pretty precarious position, and needed to kind of create a new face for CW, and that's the route that they were going.
And you know, when it comes down to it, it's business. If they didn't feel that we were generating that, then it's just that simple. You just don't make it anymore. And I think that we also stepped on the toes of 'Supernatural.' It's unfortunate, I feel like we weren't able to really go into the other side of things. Because it would have been more interesting if you've got like the Devil, and then on the flip side, you have like The God, or whatever. And they just didn't want us to go there, because it's 'Supernatural'-y and all this stuff.
I wasn't in the original pilot, and I remember watching it, and going, this is hilarious. This is quirky, and it's offbeat, and it's funny, and I thought all those guys were so natural in their roles, and I loved it.
And it just took a turn where it was just like, every episode was "OK, there's a new guy (who escaped from Hell), and now you've gotta deal with it." That's it. And it's just, clean hands at the end of every episode. Which we didn't think that was going to be the case either. We really wanted to have ongoing dramas with maybe some of the souls, or really kind of drag some of the relationship stuff out. They dragged mine out with Sam in that show like two seasons. (chuckling) On that end, I was like, "Come on, let's make a decision. I can't cry every episode."
Did it feel weird to be on a network that was more identified with 'Gossip Girl' than anything else? I didn't even notice it. It didn't even faze me. We're living in Vancouver. That job was great for me because I worked with really funny people, and I was at home. I was with my family, and that was really important to me. So just, the rest of it I just don't even really think about. I don't compare anything because you just don't ever know.
It just really, it comes down to business. And you can't really take it personally. The hard thing as an actor is that when you connect to a role, and I'm terrified about 'Rookie Blue' not going again. I was just in Toronto, and promoting it, and you know, you talk about it so much, and I fall in love with the project every time I talk about it. And then I saw all the people again from the show, and I just was so heavy, because I'm going, oh my goodness, (soon) we air, and we're going to find out what happens with this.
And I would be genuinely very upset if I couldn't work with those people again. Because I had such a great experience. And that's the hardest part about acting, is because it can be ... it's a risk. Every time, it's a risk. And you're always meeting new people, and you always form friendships and bonds, and then they can be gone. And as much as you can say "Oh, we'll definitely talk, we'll keep in touch," I mean, everybody has different lives and goes on different ways too and you're busy. So it just never happens that way. But this is the first time I really am like, my entire heart is connected with 'Rookie Blue.'
Being a police officer can have its challenges -- and particular ones when you're new to the job.
A group of novice cops experiences many of them in the ABC drama series "Rookie Blue," premiering Thursday, June 24. An American-Canadian co-production as is CBS' "Flashpoint," the Toronto-based show is an ensemble piece, but the debut focuses largely on Andy McNally (Missy Peregrym, "Reaper"), a rookie with a lot to prove.
Not only does she want to be taken seriously, she's driven to surpass the legacy of her ex-cop father (Peter MacNeill), who fought his own professional demons. Andy ends up having a very eventful first day on the beat, attracting a homicide detective (Eric Johnson, "Flash Gordon"), then trying to talk down a suspect who takes her hostage at gunpoint.
Gregory Smith, remembered by "Everwood" fans as brooding piano prodigy Ephram Brown, also stars as another of the newly minted officers-in-blue. Charlotte Sullivan, Travis Milne and Enuka Okuma round out the cast as police-academy graduates now putting their training to work … or trying to.
"The saving grace is that we really had no idea what we were doing, so we got to play into that," Peregrym recalls of starting production on the show. "We didn't have to have it all together. I think it would have been terrifying if I was supposed to have played a veteran of the job who'd been doing it for years. We weren't cool about anything we were doing. I mean, we couldn't even put the gun in the holster properly.
"Because I didn't grow up dying to be an actress, it's been a learning experience for me right from the beginning," adds Montreal-born Peregrym, "and it's the same with this show. After playing Andi on 'Reaper' -- which was amazing for me, since I got to be home and spend time with my family (in British Columbia) -- I was ready for something that had more depth. I just couldn't say 'No' to this, though I was nervous, because I didn't know what would be asked of me."
Peregrym notes that she and the other "Rookie Blue" actors had "one day of training where real officers came in and showed us how to handcuff someone, how to hold a gun, etc. There was so much to learn. You go to an academy for five months in real life, and we had one day to maybe understand the tools we would need to use. This show isn't about procedure, though, as much as it is about how the job affects the characters and defines them as people."
A major "co-star" in "Rookie Blue" is what the actors have to wear. Peregrym says that when she first tried on a police uniform, "I really got excited to play this character for the first time. I'm truly the biggest faker in every way when it comes to being an officer, but you feel like you have authority with that on. You stand taller, and you walk differently.
"The most irritating thing is that it takes 15 minutes to get out of it, so you watch how many liquids you drink. That's actually in one of the episodes."
Missy Peregrym stars in the ABC drama "Rookie Blue." Image via ABC.
The rookie-cop drama "Rookie Blue" will debut on June 24, according to ABC.
The series about five officers fresh out of the academy and thrown into the world of big city policing stars Missy Peregrym, Gregory Smith ("Everwood"), Enuka Okuma and Travis Milne.
The show was filmed in Toronto. Watch clips of the show at ABC's website.
Shot entirely on location in Toronto, Rookie Blue features a talented Canadian cast including Missy Peregrym (Reaper, Heroes).
Rookie Blue is coming to Global and ABC in June.
The 13-part series follows the lives of five inexperienced police rookies learning the in and outs of big city police work.
The new police drama bows June 24 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will be broadcast simultaneously in Canada and the United States. The series was commissioned by Canwest and picked up by ABC while in development.
Shot entirely on location in Toronto, Rookie Blue features a talented Canadian cast including Missy Peregrym (Reaper, Heroes), Gregory Smith (Everwood), Charlotte Sullivan (M.V.P.), Enuka Okuma (24) and Travis Milne (My Green House).
"From the top notch writing to the superb cast and incredible production values, we love everything about this show," said Barbara Williams, executive vice president of content for Canwest Broadcasting.
The show Rookie Blue follows a group of five rookies (Missy Peregrym, Gregory Smith, Travis Milne, Charlotte Sullivan and Enuka Okuma) from the police of Toronto. Enjoy watching these trailers.
Finally, Rookie Blue will premiere in simulcast on Global, a Canadian TV network, and ABC on June 24 at 9 PM (8 central).
ABC, an American TV network, just revealed its promo for the upcoming Canadian TV series Rookie Blue (formerly known as Copper). Have in mind that the show will premiere in simulcast on ABC and Global, a Canadian TV network, on June 24, 2010 at 9 p.m.
This show created by Tassie Cameron follows a tight-knit group of five rookies who just got out of the police academy. Now, they're living the dream of their life: serving in the police of Toronto. Andy McNally (Missy Peregrym), a young woman who feels like a fraud half of the time, is trained by an experienced constable (Ben Bass) who didn't want to have a partner in the first place.
Dov Epstein (Gregory Smith), the thrill-seeker in the group, is thoroughly jacked to be a cop. Traci Nash (Enuka Okuma), a girl from a working class family raised in a tough neighbourhood, is a serious party girl and a single mother (a fact she’s hiding from her colleagues). Chris Diaz (Travis Milne), the police poster boy, is a good soldier with a surprising temper. He follows orders and believes in defending the weak. As for Gail Peck (Charlotte Sullivan), the group’s politico, her mother is a superintendent next in line to be Chief of Police.
The 13-part series follows the lives of five inexperienced police rookies learning the in and outs of big city police work.
The new police drama bows June 24 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will be broadcast simultaneously in Canada and the United States. The series was commissioned by Canwest and picked up by ABC while in development.
Shot entirely on location in Toronto, Rookie Blue features a talented Canadian cast including Missy Peregrym (Reaper, Heroes), Gregory Smith (Everwood), Charlotte Sullivan (M.V.P.), Enuka Okuma (24) and Travis Milne (My Green House).
"From the top notch writing to the superb cast and incredible production values, we love everything about this show," said Barbara Williams, executive vice president of content for Canwest Broadcasting.
TORONTO -- ABC is to debut the Canadian cop drama "Rookie Blue" on Thursday, June 24 at 9 p.m., simultaneously with its Canadian debut on Global Television, it was announced Wednesday.
The 13-part drama, previously titled "Copper," is from E1 Entertainment and Thump Inc., and was shot on location in Toronto.
The series about five inexperienced rookies thrown into the world of big city policing stars Missy Peregrym, Gregory Smith ("Everwood"), Enuka Okuma and Travis Milne.
"Rookie Blue" is executive produced by Tassie Cameron ("Flashpoint"), Ilana Frank, Noreen Halpern, John Morayniss and David Wellington.
Missy Peregrym takes lead role in ABC drama By Nellie Andreeva
"Reaper" co-star Missy Peregrym has been tapped as the lead of Canadian cop drama "Copper," which will air on ABC.
Billed as "Grey's Anatomy" set in the world of rookie cops, "Copper" centers on Andy McNally (Peregrym), a newly minted cop fresh from the academy and the daughter of a homicide detective. She is anxious about her first day on the job, which doesn't go as well as she had wished.
ABC acquired "Copper" in April from Canadian producer E1.
Filming on the series, which has a 13-episode order, is slated to begin shortly in Toronto.
Montreal-born Peregrym most recently played the female lead Andi on the CW's supernatural dramedy "Reaper." She also co-starred on the ABC drama "Life as We Know It" and recurred on "Heroes" and "Smallville."
She is repped by Gersh and Brillstein's Jai Khanna.
Dance, Monkey! In the "Vanities" feature Missy confesses she had to fake her way through a dance routine to win the lead role in “Stick It.” “I am not a dancer. I remember screwing up and just, like, making stuff up. It was so awkward.”
Missy and Vanessa Lengies pose for Elle Girl’s “Fan Girl” and talk about “Stick It.” They recall the rigourous Olympic-style training sessions, pranks on the set and the lifestyle the Canadians live in Los Angeles.
Missy and Vanessa Lengies pose for Elle Girl’s “Fan Girl” and talk about “Stick It.” They recall the rigourous Olympic-style training sessions, pranks on the set and the lifestyle the Canadians live in Los Angeles.
Back in 2003, Missy was on a little-known show called “Black Sash.” The Kung-Fu actioner, which also starred Russell Wong, required all of the actors to undergo training in Baguazhang, one of the three internal Chinese Martial Arts. The Provin
Back in 2003, Missy was on a little-known show called “Black Sash.” The Kung-Fu actioner, which also starred Russell Wong, required all of the actors to undergo training in Baguazhang, one of the three internal Chinese Martial Arts. The Province profiles Missy’s early days in acting and her love of working in Canada.
How do close friendships start? Well, it doesn’t hurt to meet naked. Missy met her “Stick It” co-star and close friend Vanessa Lengies when accidentally entering a dressing room a moment too early. Missy sits with the Alternative Press t
How do close friendships start? Well, it doesn’t hurt to meet naked. Missy met her “Stick It” co-star and close friend Vanessa Lengies when accidentally entering a dressing room a moment too early. Missy sits with the Alternative Press to discuss her friendship and work with Vanessa, adjusting to a “Hollywood” lifestyle and her closeted love of Celine Dion.
Missy sits down with Elle Canada to discuss “Stick It.” She reflects on her training schedule for the film. “I was sore every day. Gymnasts make it look so easy, but it actually strains every part of your body—I even ended up with strong toes!” While she no longer is performing splits or cat leaps, she does admit, “At random moments, I do get the urge to do a handstand. So wherever I am I do it, just to be sure I still can!”
Missy heads out to the beach for a Strut magazine cover shoot and seven-page pictorial. In the article, she discusses how she auditioned for “Stick It.” “I read the script and loved it so much…I flew down [to LA] and totally pitched myself like a retard--‘I’ll do anything!'” The article continues regaling moments when studios took chances on “unproven” actors such as Julia Roberts and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Missy always thought she was athletic, but after training with professional gymnasts for her role in “Stick It,” she had to reconsider her definition of the word. As she tells International Gymnast, “I’m embarrassed I called myself an athlete before. I didn’t understand what was actually required of me.” In this interview, Missy talks about how demanding and occasionally painful her training was, the rewards of learning to do proper front and back handsprings and what she learned about hard work and dedication from the real gymnasts she worked with.
After a getting caught in a rainstorm with the Jeep top down, Missy talks with Nylon. Missy discusses her plans to coach a basketball team for L.A.’s Dream Center which offers housing, food and job training for underprivileged children and adults. A
After a getting caught in a rainstorm with the Jeep top down, Missy talks with Nylon. Missy discusses her plans to coach a basketball team for L.A.’s Dream Center which offers housing, food and job training for underprivileged children and adults. After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, the Dream Center was a first stop for many who were relocated. She is described as “remarkably balanced” and “highly aware of the caustic side of fame.”
In a 7-page layout in LA Direct, Missy may be wearing over $10,000 of borrowed jewelry in the shoot. But for her, it is more about a pair of $38 kicks from Tom's Shoes. The Santa Monica based store has a more important mission than just selling reasonably priced and very comfortable footwear. For every pair purchased, Tom’s Shoes donates a free pair to a child in need. Since its inception in 2006, the store has delivered 200,000 pairs to impoverished areas around the globe, from South Africa to Argentina. Missy often donates her time to raise awareness of this issue.
The Hot List, the TV Guide round-up of the hottest new shows, praises "Reaper" as “a charmingly offbeat comedy” and speaks with cast members Bret Harrison and Ray Wise.
Thursday nights at 9 p.m. on ABC are where work, play and love mix. No, I'm not talking about Grey Anatomy. Starting this Thursday, June 24, ABC's Rookie Blue will be taking over for the beleaguered doctors. (Did you see that season finale? They deserve a break!) The Toronto-filmed series, which will premiere simultaneously on ABC and Canada's Global TV, follows five newbie cops, two of whom are played by some familiar TV faces. I recently chatted with Missy Peregrym and Gregory Smith about what it’s like to play police officers, what they think of each other’s characters, his “scandalous” love interest, leaving Reaper and Everwood behind and more while Peregrym and Smith playfully teased each other.
Was there anything you were surprised to learn about cops? Something you didn’t realize was true or maybe a common misconception?
The pilot also introduces Andy's backstory with her father. Are we going to learn more about him and why he’s no longer a cop?
Workplace Hook-Ups Will Probably Happen Anyway
