SPOILER ALERT! This story accommodates particulars from Thursday’s crossover episodes of Regulation & Order and Regulation & Order: SVU on NBC.
Dick Wolf’s two flagship exhibits on April 17 staged their third crossover since Could of 2022 by chronicling the brutal rape and murders (what else?) of a number of marginalized ladies within the Massive Apple. The 2-hour occasion on NBC additionally marked the primary time that Maura Tierney — who joined L&O this season as Lt. Jessica Brady — was required to kick some precise cop ass. (Her character acknowledges that “it’s been a minute” since she final bought bodily with a perp).
Right here, Tierney appears to be like again on the twenty fourth season to this point and explains how the crossover episodes had been unexpectedly paying homage to her days taking part in Abby Lockhart on ER.
DEADLINE How’s it been becoming a member of Regulation & Order? How has the pacing felt in comparison with the opposite collection you’ve completed?
MAURA TIERNEY Nicely, it’s very totally different as a result of the present is half legislation, half order. [Laughs] So a number of instances it’s actually quick as a result of they’ll pile the entire precinct scenes in a single or two days. The tempo may be very fast on these given days, however then typically I gained’t work a few instances per week. So I’ve extra free time than, say, once I was on ER. And the scenes are far more concentrated. The opposite day I had three interrogations again to again. Or perhaps 4, I’m unsure. It may be hectic, nevertheless it’s enjoyable.
DEADLINE What’s it been like residing on this darker world?
TIERNEY Nicely, it’s fairly actually darker. The set is so darkish. I believe the present appears to be like very cool, nevertheless it’s darkish in there. It’s additionally darkish as a result of somebody dies each week, however I believe there’s an pleasure to the chase. It’s darkish after they have youthful folks die, however a number of instances the investigations outweigh the tragedy of the loss. That’s actually on the visitor stars’ again. They’ve loads. That’s a tough job.
DEADLINE What feels refreshing about this compared to your earlier collection?
TIERNEY I like working in New York. The Affair began in New York, however the final two seasons we moved to L.A. till the very finish. I actually like working right here. I like working exterior within the seasons. The opposite day we shot in entrance of Radio Metropolis. I don’t just like the darkish stage as a lot.
DEADLINE Does L&O all the time entice a crowd?
TIERNEY It’s very chill. They’ll be like, ‘Hey, what’s up? The way you doing?’ They’re very pleasant, however no one stops and stares. They’re very New Yorker. That’s good. No one gawks.
DEADLINE To start with, did you might have an enormous say in Jessica Brady’s look?
TIERNEY The costume designer may be very collaborative, however there’s not a lot we are able to do. Jessica is a lieutenant, so she has a gown accordingly. So I’m often sporting a swimsuit or a jacket or some model of that, however she has to look skilled on a regular basis. We don’t see her at residence. I don’t know how that character would gown at residence. I did begin out sporting sneakers however that didn’t work out as a result of the blokes are so tall. I wanted some peak on me. I wanted some boots to stand up there with them.
DEADLINE You might have a enjoyable line within the crossover episode the place you say you ‘haven’t performed that tough in a minute.’ So have we not seen Jessica be all badass in earlier episodes?
TIERNEY No, and it was so humorous as a result of I’ve stated I need to do stunts. However then I used to be like, oh, cautious what you want for as a result of I fail. Mariska Hargitay is de facto good at it. However I used to be very tentative. We needed to beat this man up and my stunt double was truly my stunt double on ER, which is wild. I noticed her and I used to be like, ‘oh my God, I’m so glad you’re right here.’ I used to be feeling depressing with pretending to kick the man behind the knee and I wanted to make use of my abdomen as a result of, I don’t know, I used to be afraid to harm one other actor. He wasn’t a stunt man. It was enjoyable, however I gained’t say I excelled at it.
DEADLINE I can’t imagine you wanted a stunt double on ER.
TIERNEY Nicely, my character Abby bought beat up typically. She bought beat up by an abusive husband. We additionally needed to go in entrance of a inexperienced display screen as soon as and be dropped from a helicopter.
DEADLINE Brady’s dynamic with Benson was attention-grabbing. I began to surprise if we might see these two highly effective ladies conflict. How would you describe the variations between Benson and Brady?
TIERNEY Benson has feelings and Brady doesn’t present many. I simply suppose that Benson is a bit more empathic than mine. I don’t suppose it was as a lot about highly effective ladies clashing. They conflict when it comes to how they do the police work. They don’t conflict over what their objectives are. So it wasn’t simply two highly effective ladies sniping at one another. It was very balanced when it comes to typically, a kinder strategy works and typically, a more durable strategy works. The characters had been figuring that out all through these two episodes. Each of us realized they might study from each other. I wouldn’t be shocked if the crossover occurred once more. We had a extremely good time. It was very enjoyable.
DEADLINE You two shared the display screen earlier than, proper?
TIERNEY It was an identical conflict over one of the best ways to get the job completed, and my character was extra about by any means obligatory. Benson was not. So we form of constructed on that.
DEADLINE What can we anticipate from the finale?
TIERNEY The finale is de facto nice. It includes extra of Odelya Halevi’s character, Maroun. It’s extra about her story. I don’t have as a lot to do within the finale, however there’s a slight cliffhanger, which the present doesn’t actually do. So I believe that that’ll be enjoyable for the viewers.
DEADLINE And most significantly, you’re coming again, proper?
TIERNEY The present hasn’t been formally picked up but however sure, I will likely be again if the present comes again.
