TVSquad Video Int. w/ "Rookie Blue's" Missy Peregrym and Gregory Smith

[JamesG]

Missy Peregrym of "Rookie Blue" Doesn't Want to Be Famous
by Joel Keller
posted Jun 18th 2010


You never know when a simple statement 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."




Peregrym and I talked about how much she loves her "Rookie Blue" character Andy McNally, and how the comparisons to "Grey's Anatomy" are fairly accurate.







"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.





"Rookie Blue" debuts Thursday, June 24, at 9PM ET on ABC.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/06/18/mi...-to-be-famous/

[JamesG]

Smith On Playing Cops & Busting Perps (VIDEO)
by Maggie Furlong
posted Jun 23rd 2010


Cop shows are notorious for painting every officer and detective as a hardened veteran. "Rookie Blue" does the exact opposite, giving us five pretty clueless newbies to root for instead.



Missy Peregrym ("Reaper") plays Andy, the daughter of a cop who's constantly trying to prove herself, but always kind of screwing up.

Gregory Smith ("Everwood") plays Dov, a kid who always dreamed of becoming a cop and getting in on the action, only to get put behind the desk on day one.



I sat down with the stars to hear about training with real officers (well, a little ... they are rookies, afterall), handling interesting suspects, all the comparisons to "Grey's Anatomy" and keeping the set fun.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/06/23/ro...ym-greg-smith/

[DSfan]

I loved the pilot, and for exactly the reasons she mentions - that the show puts a lot of emphasis on the relationships and characters and not only on the police work.