Tracy Spiridakos Reveals Why ‘Anna Pigeon’ Role Was The Perfect Follow-Up To ‘Chicago P.D.’—Q&A

EXCLUSIVE: Tracy Spiridakos is a long way away from Chicago, the city she called home for years while starring as Detective Hailey Upton on NBC’s hit police procedural Chicago P.D. Similar to her character, Anna Pigeon, in the upcoming eponymous USA Network series, Spiridakos traded the big city for a small town.

Spiridakos spoke to Deadline about what it was like being surrounded by nature while shooting in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, riding horses, and she shared teasers as to what fans can expect when the show premieres later this year. Our Q&A and new photos can be found below.

From Morwyn Brebner and based on the best-selling novels by Nevada Barr, Anna Pigeon follows the title character, a former city slicker who became a park ranger in rural Washington after a devastating loss changed the trajectory of her life forever. While Anna tries to outrun her demons, her focus turns to solving crimes that have taken place within national park grounds, no matter who or what gets in her way.

Joining her on her adventures are fellow series regular Ronnie Rowe Jr. as FBI Agent Frederick Stanton, a charismatic wanderer who chases crimes through national parks and keeps his cool, and Paulina Alexis as Zoey Bear Child, a young ranger coming into her own, whom Anna mentors.

The recurring cast includes Tricia Helfer as Molly Pigeon, Anna’s older sister; Kim Coates as Jeremiah Paulson, a local land owner; Cooper Levy as Jesse Garland, a bartender and Anna’s on-again-off-again love interest; Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz as Manny López, a gentle soul and recovering addict; and Ryan Northcott as Geoff Miller, Anna’s boss.

DEADLINE: You had come off of Chicago P.D. after many years, when this opportunity came along. What was it about Anna Pigeon that made you feel that it was the perfect next role?

TRACY SPIRIDAKOS: I read the pilot and just completely fell in love with Anna. I love that there are similarities to Upton in certain things, but they’re also really different in a lot of ways. The tone of the show is totally different; it’s much more light-hearted and fun, fun in a different way. [Laughs] I was just really drawn to her grit, and also her sense of humor and sarcasm, and all the other characters all around. I was really excited to get to jump in.

DEADLINE: Speaking of jumping into things, you look very comfortable on horseback. Had you ridden before?

SPIRIDAKOS: I had learned a little bit when I was working on Revolutionbut not to the extent that I got to with this show. My horse’s name is Joker, whom I completely fell in love with. He was just the most beautiful horse. Now I want horses myself, like this is now my new path. It was incredible and so much fun.

DEADLINE: I have this photo of you where it looks like you fell down. Did you fall off Joker?

SPIRIDAKOS: She fell, but I can’t tell you why.

DEADLINE: Okay, we love a good mystery. What can you tease about the show?

SPIRIDAKOS: The pilot itself is based on “Track of the Cat,” which is the very first part of the “Anna Pigeon” book series. Anna is investigating after one of the Rangers, who has gone missing, and she’s trying to figure out what happened and where they are. I hope that audiences can really immerse themselves in the wilderness, which is definitely its own character. It’s so stunningly beautiful. Every day we were working, and I looked around, pinching myself and wondering, “How is this my life?”

We will be solving the crime of the week, or the mystery of the week, and all the characters are rooted in this really human, emotional journey and depth. On top of that, we don’t take ourselves too seriously. So there’s some levity, and some jokes, and we tease each other, and Anna makes fun of herself. Hopefully, audiences will feel that it’s this fun adventure that they’re along for the ride with us.

DEADLINE: The logline we were given says that Anna is dealing with a huge loss and is trying to outrun her demons. What can you share?

SPIRIDAKOS: The loss that she is feeling and the demons that she’s battling, it’s grief. It’s this loss and trying to find her footing again in who she is, who she was. Anyone who’s experienced losing somebody, it’s really hard to find your identity again after such a big loss. I definitely feel that that’s something that I identified with when I lost my father.

So, Anna’s trying to rediscover herself in the wilderness. There are these parts of her past that are obviously her, but so much has now changed. It’s fighting the grief and fighting where she was, then to who she’s becoming, and all her inner turmoil is what we get to see every week.

DEADLINE: You’re working with Tricia Helfer, who is playing your sister. How would you describe Anna and Molly’s relationship?

SPIRIDAKOS: Molly is Anna’s pillar of strength. She is her everyday, her everything. When Anna left her life in New York to become a park ranger, she left everything behind: all the friends that she had, everything that she had. And Molly is her constant when she’s up, down, when she’s stressed, when she’s happy, whatever it is that she celebrates, it’s with her sister. They have this really beautiful relationship and dynamic.

And in certain situations, Anna will call Molly to discuss a crime that Molly may be able to help her with psychologically, to think about the person she’s investigating. She’ll give her tips and help her solve them as well. But it’s their relationship and dynamic that’s really lovely. Working with Tricia was an absolute dream. She’s honestly one of the kindest human beings I’ve ever met in my life. She’s wonderful.

DEADLINE: I have a photo of your co-star, Ronnie Rowe Jr., who is sitting down and reading what looks like an NYPD file. What can you share about Anna and his character’s relationship?

SPIRIDAKOS: He’s such a sweetheart as well. We’re so fortunate. Our cast is really incredible. Ronnie plays Frederick Stanton, a character from the books. He’s an FBI agent. You know, Anna lives her life very outwardly with her emotions. She just expresses whatever emotion she’s having very openly. And Frederick is much cooler, collected, and he balances her in so many ways. He helps her solve various crimes throughout their adventures. Their dynamic is really fun.

Frederick is one of the very few people who call Anna out on her shit and tease her about it. He doesn’t shy away from telling her whatever he thinks as he thinks it. He’s one of the only people who do that aside from Molly, who does it in a different way. She tries to appeal to Anna, whereas Frederick just lays it out.

DEADLINE: You’re working with Kim Coates, and this photo of him is giving bad guy vibes. Am I on the right track?

SPIRIDAKOS: He’s incredible. He was so much fun to play with as well. He plays Jeremiah Paulson, a wealthy landowner. He and Anna cross each other’s paths, and what I can tease for you is that they’re not friends.

DEADLINE: You’re looking pretty comfortable sitting at the bar talking to the cute bartender. Is this a love connection?

SPIRIDAKOS: That’s Jesse, and he’s a bartender and an environmentalist who works at the park. He’s somebody who is Anna’s on and off again.

DEADLINE: After so many years working in Chicago with the same cast, how were your first days on this new set?

SPIRIDAKOS: I don’t know if other actors feel the same way, but when I show up on set, I get really shy, as much as I like I love people and I love meeting people. Yeah, I get really shy. And I’ll be like, “hello, hi.” But we had such a lovely group, and everyone was shy in their own way. The first few days, we’re getting comfortable, and it didn’t take very long. We became fast friends. It was definitely like first day of school vibes.

DEADLINE: It sounds like this has been a great experience for you. Is Anna Pigeon a character you could see yourself playing for a long time?

SPIRIDAKOS: Yeah, I love her. I really love her, and I hope audiences do too. I think there’s so much about her that I love, and there’s so much more to uncover. I could absolutely see myself playing her for a long time. I would love to.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.