Abigail Hawk – Blue Bloods

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) We are getting to see here on Blue Bloods. Do you remember how Abigail was originally described to you?

A) Originally, she did not have a last name. She did not have an age. She did not even have a gender. She did not have a race. She did not have an anything. She was Either detective Mel or Melissa. So, no first name. Definitely not my first name. I got the role and about two to three episodes in Tom [Selleck] decided to change it to Abigail because he thought Melissa was too ordinary, which I guess is a compliment – so I’ll take it. Then he cleared with the lawyers the last name Baker. He obviously thought it was very important for me to have a last name since I was a person on the show. So, they gave me a full-fledged identity and that was all him.

Q) What keeps challenging you about her? She’s obviously incredibly smart. She’s a detective that’s come up and has some sort of significant to Frank. Was she just assigned to him or are they connected in some way?

A) Well, we talked that we talked about that. Baker is about five years older than I am. so that’s a challenge to project – how would she respond having five more years of life under her belt. And she’s obviously way smarter than I am. So, that’s something that consistently challenges me. Tom and I have talked at length that most likely he brought her on as his Assistant to the Commissioner because something happened meritoriously. So, in order for her to be promoted through the ranks, being as young as she is, she would have had to do something meritorious because it wouldn’t have just been like a regular promotion when due for a promotion. So, we think that when she was off duty at some point, she did something very heroic and sprung into action. There is someone named Arlene Beckles, whom I believe is a real person who was an officer that responded to a robbery in progress at a nail salon and like saved everybody. She didn’t even have to fire her weapon, and nobody got hurt, but she was able to successfully get the perp And so we take the something similar to that maybe bigger situation. She did something truly heroic and special, which definitely her M.O. and Frank saw that and said, “I can use this.” The thing that I love about her is that she’s just so capable of reading the room and reading people. Like Tom calls Baker like Frank’s Radar from “MASH” – she almost has this sixth sense about people that are going in and out of that office and what he needs and what he doesn’t need. I love their relationship. I love the relationship between all of us – looping in Garrett (Greg Jbara’s character) and Sid Gormley (Robert Clohessy). Particularly we’re all just really in tune and he keeps us because we’re good at very specific things. Garrett is the spin guy. Bob is the adopt every cop like they’re sad puppies and keep them under my wing. Baker is obviously the brains of the operation. She’s like Penny from “Inspector Gadget. I’ve always looked at her like that.

Q) There was a story recently about how Tom changed an episode for you for the birth of your son. Plus, now the story about Abigail getting her name. How much of an influence do you have with Baker?

A) I think I think it’s kind of symbiotic give it take you know because you got this team of writers and you’ve got different directors that come in for every episode and the characters really are very much alive and I think they evolve as we all evolve together. And I think there are things that I do with lines that have previously been written that inspire the writers for future episodes. If that makes sense. Like the way I deliver certain things makes them like, “Okay, let’s see what happens if we throw this situation this way. What happens if her husband gets shot? What happens if we find out Frank has a grandson, and nobody knows except for me?” That kind of thing. So, I don’t know I really have influence outside of that particular thing. But I also think that I have built this character from the ground up. A lot of times when the door is shutting, or Baker brings somebody in and you see her look at the Commissioner and it’s just this that tells you everything you need to know about this person. It’s all nonverbal cues with her. That was something that I did and I’m very proud of that because I wasn’t given a lot of lines when the series was in its first couple of seasons. So, I really made every moment my own. And I think that the writers saw that and kept that, and it’s become this thing like, “Oh boy! Baker is bringing somebody in. Let’s see what kind of look she gives Frank.” So, I think it’s like subconscious influence.

Q) My favorite episode was when the three of you had to do one another’s jobs for the day. What are some episodes that personally stand out to you?

A) Well, that one definitely. Also, the one which was season four that Donnie Wahlberg directed called “Manhattan Queens” where There was a Heckler with the Suffolk County PD and I got to get him. We were at like a conference and I was up there, and I had that “itty bitty contraband” line. He said something about wanting Baker to practice “Stop and Frisk” on him and I instantly shut him down with that very memorable line, “Experience has taught us Stop and Frisk is highly ineffective when it come to finding the itty bitty contraband.” I can’t. It’s just so amazing. It’s the best writing. I love it so much I’m probably going to get it tattooed on my rib cage after this is all over just to remember how amazing she is. The other one was when Baker got offered a job at IAB and Frank realized he needed to let her realize why it was not a good thing that she was being offered the job since it was so that person could get an in with the Commissioner rather than on her own merit. So, he realized he couldn’t say no. She had to figure it out for herself. And I love that because they have such a mutual respect. And the episode ended with us drinking whiskey together in a bar and not looking at each other and being mad at each other. It was great. It was fun!

Q) If you could write an episode for Abigail what would you like to see her explore?

A) Well, I think I would love to know more what her home life is like – even if it is just in a snapshot. Because now you know she has a husband who was severely injured in the line of duty who is also a cop. And she has two young kids. So, what is her home life like? I have to imagine it has to be so difficult. She’s at one 1PP at the crack of dawn. She’s the last one to leave – other than Frank. So, what does that do to her home life? How strong is her marriage? I would just love to know a little bit more about the person she has chosen to have as her life partner. What does that look like? I would love to know that. I would also really love to get some kind of case I could work on with Marisa Ramirez or Vanessa Ray or even with Bridget [Moynahan]. I think that the fans are really clamoring to see that kind of team up happen again. It’s always so much fun when you see Eddie and Abetemarco (Steve Schirripa) together. They are arguing about pizza. I think it would be great to put the girls to that same kind of test and see what we could do.

Q) Viewers love the weekly family dinners and Frank has never had his work family join in. Is that something you all discussed?

A) Oh all the time! All the time! [laughs] We consistently talk about how we will be the last to get invited. Now, I have been there I think three times, but it was way earlier on in the episodes. There was a time when there was a power outage and I was there working at the desks and that was Frank’s hub. And there was another time where I brought some case files over and had like a heart-to-heart with Henry (Len Cariou), but I think that was all Season 1 and Season 2. It’s never been all three of us ever. So, I think it would be adorable and awesome, but I don’t know. I feel like you’d almost have to get each of us separately because we wouldn’t fit at the table. [laughs] Maybe Nicky (Sami Gayle) would have to be back out in California. [laughs] Both of the boys would have to be at college instead of just one in order for us to fit. Who knows?

Q) Do you think it is just because he prefers to keep his work and family life separate?

A) Yes. I think so. And there just hasn’t been a need. He needs that time with family. Obviously, with Maria they had that very traumatic moment together. And I, personally, don’t think it was Maria Baez and Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) having a romantic thing. It was more, “We’re partners and we’re best friends. Let me show you what family looks like,” because she doesn’t have that. I thought that was a really lovely, lovely thing. I guess it’s a good thing that we haven’t been to family dinner because it means we’re doing our jobs right and nothing traumatic has happened to us. [laughs]

Q) What have you personally taken away from your time on Blue Bloods?

A) It’s changed my life! I went in very green. I had lived in New York for six or seven years. I had a retail survival job that understood I was an actor and let me audition on lunch breaks and things like that. They were lovely and it was stable. I had my health insurance and my 401K, but I wasn’t being fulfilled and I wasn’t thriving. I went on this audition for a new show. There was nothing remarkable about her and it was just supposed to be this one episode, but Tom liked me and so he brought me back a second time and then he brought me back again. Now, it’s become this larger than life thing where I really get to be this real-life hero to a lot of women. There are not a lot of women in law enforcement anyway and there are especially not a lot of women executives in law enforcement. So, seeing a female in that position of power is really important. Just like we now have a female Vice President. Regardless of your political affiliation – that’s important. That’s momentous! That’s history. I think we just need to keep having that bar be raised to show that women are inherently capable and able to completely hold their own if not even more so with men in these positions. I don’t like the fact that she’s the only female on the floor, but at the same time she one hundred percent holds her own with those guys. It’s just important to me that I get to be a strong character like that. There is just nothing like that and, plus, it’s opened the door to so many other things. The relationships that I have – I get to work with these powerhouse actors and learn from them every day. I’m blown away by the producers and crews’ response with all of the COVID protocol. We really are this big wonderful family. We grow together. We grieve together. And people leave and move on and we mourn them, and new people come, and we praise them and enjoy them. It’s been a wonderful experience. I don’t ever want it to end but I will miss it greatly because it really has been a jumping off point for me.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) First of all, I joined Twitter so late and really so I could plug the show and have fun responding in real time with all of the episodes and stuff. I was late with Instagram, too. I enjoy it for the fact that I can have fun with it and use it for what I think it is supposed to be. I hate that I’m on any kind of pedestal because I just think that stuff is so stupid. I want to be accessible and be able to show people that I’m just a normal person. Just because I act on a show – I’m a mom, I’m a wife, I’m a daughter and I have dogs who poop on the floor and chew up my shoes. We don’t have a nanny. My husband and I do everything ourselves. We’re just normal people. We’re worried about COVID. My husband is a first responder. I just try to be as transparent as possible and as real as possible. I love doing that. I enjoy interacting with people. I just joined Cameo, which officially means I’m a big deal now. Whatever. [laughs] But I love it. Someone just reached out to me and they are retiring after forty years as a nurse! I got to say congratulations to that person who I would never ever meet and interact with in any other way. So, that’s a gift. I get to say thank you. Especially this year…Or I get to say “Happy Golden Anniversary” to a couple that somehow made it through fifty years without killing each other. And that’s awesome!

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and the work you do?

A) First, I just want to say thank you. I am able to do so much of it because of their support. I think she would have been written off long ago if people had not been drawn to her and I just appreciate being able to bare my heart, especially on social media. I really appreciate that space to be able to be myself. People are really supportive of the writing that I’ve been working on. So, I just appreciate it. I feel like it’s almost a second home. I’m grateful to everyone.