“I think with the number of seasons [eight] we’ve got under our belt at this point, the show is one of those that you can watch with your entire family.”
With a large ensemble cast, led by Canadian “national treasure” Nathan Fillion, everyone has somebody they can claim as their favourite and to root for, she says.
“It’s like choose your favourite boy band member. It is a show with a lot of heart. We have comedy, we have drama, we have action, but we also have love and family dynamics. And I think that’s why it resonates in so many different countries.”
Melissa O’Neil will come to New Zealand for the first time after staring at a screenshot for 10 years. Photo / Disney, Mike Taing
O’Neil, a talented singer who won the third season of Canadian Idol, grew up in the theatre, but also on the rugby pitch. A keen No 8, she earned a rugby university scholarship in Canada, so a rugby game is also high on her New Zealand itinerary.
“I’ve got some solid injuries on my body from when I used to play,” she says, adding her love for the sport has never faded.
Being on a police procedural series, learning about law enforcement protocol is part of the job. With The Rookie, O’Neil says things are designed to give the cast the most realistic experience possible, including the type of training they get.
“When we were first starting, they purposefully divided the [actors playing] training officers and the rookies.
“They gave a rookie experience to the rookies, and they gave a training officer experience to the training officers. Anyone who was going to be a training officer, they went to a ride-along, and they got to have that deeper experience, whereas the rookies were just fully in the dark until we were shooting on set.”
Would she consider a ride-along with the New Zealand Police?
“That would be a dream. Put that out there. I think that would be so cool. Honestly, any opportunity to interact with the amazing first responders that are all over the place, I’m down. Those are really brave people who do a lot of great work.”
Melissa O’Neil says riding along with the NZ Police would be ‘a dream’. Photo / Disney, Mike Taing
O’Neil relishes her interactions with fans at conventions such as Armageddon. In Auckland, she’ll be joined by friend and The Rookie co-star Lisseth Chavez, who plays Celina Juarez. She says events like Armageddon bring people together.
“Some people go to Disneyland, some people go on big trips, and some people really love to connect with the community that they have this big shared interest in.
“The fan conventions used to be almost a purely sci-fi thing, and it’s blossomed out into including a lot of shows that just have a really large thriving fan community. I’m so stoked people like the cast in The Rookie and have been interested in leaning in.”
The panels at such events, she says, are a great way to connect with fans.
“I think it’s really fun to have an opportunity to break the fourth wall and connect with people about what’s happening behind the scenes, and dialogue about the show. I come from the world of theatre, and that is something I miss, this kind of direct feedback.
“In television, you work gruelling hours for about nine months straight, and then while you’re exhausted and resting at home, people start to see it, but you don’t really have much of an idea if people like it or not, aside from these ambiguous numbers you receive through the ratings.”
Melissa O’Neil and Eric Winter, who plays Tim Bradford in The Rookie. Photo / Disney, Mike Taing
She hopes The Rookie comes back for another season, and if it does, that’s going to mean another nine months shooting in Los Angeles.
“I have a lot of family in Canada, so I’m just doing my best to squeeze in some precious time with them and also getting out to do some cool fan events and see the world as well. And I’m really excited about that.”
Catch Melissa O’Neil at Auckland’s Armageddon Expo, 25-27 April. Visit armageddonexpo.com for info.
The Rookie screens on TVNZ 2 on Mondays.
Mitchell Hageman joined the Herald’s entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke’s Bay Today.